ABSTRACT
Purpose@#The purpose of this study was to examine the associations of aerobic physical activity and musclestrengthening exercise with mental health, respectively. Furthermore, the relationship between combined exercise with depression, stress, and suicidal thoughts was also examined. @*Methods@#The association between adherence to physical activity guidelines and mental health was analyzed among 27,268 adults who participated in the 2014– 2018 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Logistic regression was used to predict the relationship between adherence to physical activity guidelines and mental health. @*Results@#The odds ratio for depression and suicidal thoughts in groups that met both aerobic physical activity and muscle-strengthening exercise guidelines decreased by 27% (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.56– 0.94) and 40% (95% CI, 0.39– 0.93), respectively, compared to those that did not meet both. Stress awareness decreased by 22% (95% CI, 0.67– 0.90) in those who met muscular exercise guidelines, but did not meet aerobic physical activity guidelines. For those who met only the aerobic physical activity guidelines, stress awareness decreased by 12% (95% CI, 0.82 – 0.95). In addition, the odds ratio decreased by 29% (95% CI, 0.62 – 0.80) in groups that met both guidelines. @*Conclusion@#The most positive relationships between adherence to physical activity guidelines and mental health were found when both aerobic and muscular exercise guidelines were met.