The relationship between exercise and hopelessness in prison.

ABSTRACT

This paper reports on the relationship between the levels of self-reported physical exercise and mental well-being (as measured using the Beck Hopelessness Scale) in a cohort of 914 prisoners within New South Wales, Australia. A significant inverse relationship between self-reported exercise in minutes per week and hopelessness was identified. The need to include exercise as a factor in inmate health plans is discussed.