The Effect of Aquatic Activity on Emotions in Adults with Severe Mental Illness

Abstract

This study examined the effects of physical activity, improved positive emotion and decreased negative emotion in individuals living with a severe mental illness (SMI). Aquatic activities were chosen as the physical activity. Individuals living with a SMI normally live at a lower level of quality of life. Individuals living with a SMI generally experience a decreased amount of positive emotions and a higher amount of negative emotions. It was hypothesized that by participating in the aquatic activities individuals living with a SMI would have a higher level of positive emotions and a lower amount of negative emotions after participation. Participants for this study were recruited from Centerstone Inc. located in Bloomington Indiana. Interested participants had to qualify as living with a SMI by answering questions in the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview. There were 18 women and 1 man who took part in the entire study. Participants showed significant change in emotion pre- to post activity experiencing a 48% increase in positive emotion and 31% decrease in negative emotion.