Summary 1 *Reviewed

1. Koschel, Tessa L. “Examining the Impact of a University-driven Exercise Programming

Event on End-of-semester Stress in Students.” International journal of exercise science

vol. 10,5 754-763. 1 Sep. 2017

2. On September 1st, 2019 the NCBI (National Center for Biotechnology Information),

posted research regarding the impact of pre-finals exercise programming on stress levels.

The goal of the NCBI database is to provide research detailing essential processes that

impact health and disease, without compromising legitimacy of research. Many consider

the NCBI a credible organization due to their history of important research and plethora

of peer reviewed works.

3. The entire purpose of this research is to explore the impact of exercise programming on

stress levels. Evidence regarding the research is obtained through a program The

University of Nevada in Las Vegas put together called, Fitness4Finals. This program

offered 3 distinct levels of workouts: light, moderate, and vigorous along with healthy

snacks the week before finals. The study found that students felt far less stressed about

their upcoming finals due to the fitness program.

The authors of this piece took a very scientific and neutral stance towards the question.

Statistical data was used effectively in conveying data through understandable numbers.

Qualitative research was practiced heavily through the use of survey questions on the test

subjects. The conclusion drawn from the thorough study seems to be accurate and

precise, due to extensive attention to detail and leaving no room for error in the studies.
 4. In many ways this research agrees with the perspective I have on this issue. Perceived

stress was seen to be lower during and after the program completed. I feel comfortable

believing this study because no corners were cut. Since the authors took a more scientific

stance, information is bound to be less bias. I cannot comment on the actual physiological

measurements taken.

5. 1 - “​ Comments present a common theme of mental relaxation as a result of participation

in F4F”

2 - “...the perceived stress reduction reported by the F4F participants is influential”

3 - “qualitative data provides an alternate view as 100% of F4F participants self-reported

feeling a reduction in their perceived level of stress following participation in the event”

6. Whenever a point needs to be made about the psychological and physiological process

behind this idea, I will make use of this source because it proposes some good scientific

data. I can implement this information into the argument section of my thesis.

Summary 2

1. “Physical Activity Reduces Stress.” Anxiety and Depression Association of America,

ADAA, ADAA,

https://adaa.org/understanding-anxiety/related-illnesses/other-related-conditions/stress/ph

ysical-activity-reduces-st​.

2. The ADAA (Anxiety and Depression Association of America )was founded in 1980 and

is a non-profit organization focused on educating and providing advice to those who

suffer from these disorders. Being a nonprofit, well developed organization, the ADAA is

very credible in their works, only focusing on their goal and not on profit. This
 organization seems to provide very concrete logos information, therefore they are pretty

heavily logos based.

3. The purpose of this article is to provide those seeking answers about exercise and stress

relief. Rather than taking a super scientific stance, the research makes use of statistics and

a small amount of scientific data here and there. The conclusion made by this

organization say that physical activities are a great way to relieve built up stress. Surveys

questioning what activities are most used demonstrated physical activity being the king

for stress relief.

Based off this organization specializing in these kinds of studies, and the information

provided in the article, the conclusions drawn seem quite reasonable.

4. The research within this piece definitely agrees with my perspective on this subject. It

found that physical activity can be a great way to relieve stress in tense individuals. Also,

it is found that this source agrees with most other sources about this topic, so this may be

important for promoting the topic. I feel confident in making use of this work due to the

organization being a valid source.

5. 1 - “Studies show that it is very effective at reducing fatigue, improving alertness and

concentration, and at enhancing overall cognitive function”

2 - “Even five minutes of aerobic exercise can stimulate anti-anxiety effects.”

3 - “While all of these are well-known coping techniques, exercise may be the one most

recommended by health care professionals.”

6. This piece demonstrates easy to understand, but impactful statistics regarding the subject.

Also, it was not heavily based on psychological and physiological data. Therefore, I
 could use this information in the main body or introduction of my thesis, due to its easy

to understand information.

Summary 3

1. Harvard Health Publishing. “Exercising to Relax.” ​Harvard Health​, 11 Feb. 2011,

https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/exercising-to-relax​.

2. Founded in 1782, Harvard Health Publishing is a part of the Harvard Medical School

where the goal is to provide updated, reliable health related information to individuals

around the world. The enormity of the organization is immense, consisting of almost 20

hospitals and upwards of 20,000 employees. To deliver pertinent medical information,

Harvard publishing makes use of multiple forms of media (articles, news, apps, videos,

etc.).

3. This article poses an important inquiry question, “How does exercise reduce stress, and

can exercise really be relaxing?” To answer this question effectively, the writers used a

mix of scientific and common knowledge to prove this point. One thing I found really

interesting is that the writers focused on the idea of even light exercise, such as walking

being effective in reducing stress. Along with light exercise, the article elaborates on the

idea of relaxation activities helping immensely as well.

Based on the reading and my research into the organization, I believe this is a great

article to use for my project. The content of the article seems to be consistent and agrees

with other credible sources on this topic area. The writers made use of understandable

statistics and human physiology to convey the idea on a scientific level. Harvard Health
 Publishing is a massive and credible source coming from a world renowned Ivy League

college. Overall, this will be an important source to cite in my inquiry paper.

4. The conclusion made by the researcher of this article is that there are various methods

relating to exercise that can relieve an individual of stress. The research detailed in this

piece definitely agrees with my perspective on this topic. As for other viewpoints, this

article is consistent with most of the other findings I could find. Theses consistency are

usually on the statistical level rather than the scientific level due to the amount of effort

put into the piece scientifically.

5. 1 - “Almost any type of exercise will help”

2 - “Exercise reduces levels of the body's stress hormones, such as adrenaline and

cortisol”

3 - “Even without formal meditation and controlled breathing, the gentle muscle

stretching of yoga can reduce stress”

6. After reading this article, I find it as one of the better sources so far. The information is

easy to understand and it is relatable to my topic. The information found within this

article would be great to use in the parts of my thesis where I am detailing the multitude

of workouts available to help relieve stress.

Summary 4

1. “Stress and Exercise.” American Psychological Association, American Psychological

Association, ​https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/stress/2013/exercise​.
2. Founded in 1892, The APA (American Psychological Association) is a prominent

organization educating and tending to psychological cases and situations. Comprised of

over 100,000 researchers, the APA is one of the most influential and widespread

psychological organizations.

3. This article describes exercises’ role in helping alleviate stress. Contrary to other articles

I have explored, this source is essentially based on statistics itself rather than any sort of

medical explanation. The statistical data is mainly provided through a survey conducted

called the “Stress in America™” survey. A large part of this article is exploring this study

across differing generations. This perspective open many valuable questions to evaluate

such as: Are graduate students more or less stressed? Is physical activity much more

impactful in other generations?.

This article seems to be a good fit for my research, due to the use of an effective survey

and because it’s from a credible source. The actual content and conclusion drawn is

cooperative with my perspective into this topic. Information was delivered through a

correctly conducted survey; therefor, the data gathered is a true representation of the

areas explored.

4. The conclusion drawn from this article seems to agree with the fact that stress is relieved

through physical activity. The findings are consistent and useful with the contents of my

research. Consequently, the statistical data found is useful because the data is more

explorative of different areas regarding the topic. In areas where I need to detail extra

statistical data this information will be useful.

 5. 1 - “Millennials are more likely to say that they have skipped exercise or physical activity

in the past month when stressed”

2 - “On average, adults report that they spend 3.9 hours a day watching TV, 3.7 hours a

day going online and 3.4 hours a day sitting at a desk”

3 - “Women are more likely than men to report the benefits of exercise”

6. After reading this article, I find it as the best research for referencing statistical data. Data

is conveyed in a concise and effective way, so I don’t have to reread the research

completely. Data found in this article would be very useful when proving a point in my

thesis. Statistical data is encouraging.

Summary 5 *Reviewed

1. Star, Katharina. “Why You Should Exercise to Relieve Symptoms of Mental Illness.”

Verywell Mind, Verywell Mind, 10 Aug. 2019,

https://www.verywellmind.com/physical-exercise-for-panic-disorder-and-anxiety-258409

4​.

2. Verywell is a website that was created in April, 2016 and is simply dedicated to

providing information about health to its readers mainly through the use of articles.. The

website traffic is in excess of over 10 million users a month. Articles and research

displayed on the website is peer reviewed by board-certified physicians, ensuring

accurate information.
 3. The purpose of this article is to educate the audience that physical gains are not the only

advantage of exercise, but psychological benefits exist as well. The research takes an

approach of listing out the multitude of unknown benefits. This makes the piece easy to

understand, but less expansive on the scientific side. Also, this article is rather

instructional unlike most of the other sources we have looked at. This how-to format

creates an easy way to understand how to develop a plan for relieving stress. Mostly all

of the information was taken through other works detailed in the works cited area.

This article fits within my research boundaries. It is not contradicting any of the

information I have obtained and it does a good job of delivering this information.

4. This article agrees with the widespread perspective that physical activity impacts an

individual's stress greatly. Being consistent and credible with the existing research done.

This article can be archived for further use in a thesis.

5. 1 - “Additionally, research shows exercise can improve the symptoms of many existing

mental illnesses”

2 - “Exercise decreases stress hormones like cortisol. It also increases endorphins—your

body's ‘feel-good’ chemicals—giving your mood a natural boost”

3 - “From weight lifting to running, it's important to find exercises that you enjoy doing”

6. I find this article very informative when it comes to describing the process of developing

a plan. I can definitely make use of this research in the part of my thesis where I inform

the audience of the methods to develop one of these effective plans.

Summary 6 *Reviewed
1. Madell, Robin. “Exercise as Stress Relief.” Healthline, 14 Mar. 2016,

https://www.healthline.com/health/heart-disease/exercise-stress-relief#1​.

2. Healthline is a media company based in New York and San Francisco. It concerned with

providing understandable health related articles to help readers make decisions regarding

their wellness. The company pulls in over 200 million users every month. Every article is

peer reviewed by a team of professionals in the health field.

3. The purpose of this article is to inform the reader of how to relieve stress and the various

ways to do so. The approach taken is that of more informative writing rather than a

how-to or a scientific investigation. Many of the points highlighted in this piece examines

the individual hormones and such impacted by each activity. Like other articles, this one

details the fact that strenuous workouts are not even needed. This source fits within my

research boundaries, no information contradicts, and it provides new points to my

research.

4. The research provides the conclusion from the start, that exercise is effective in helping

relieve an individuals of stress. Again, this conclusion is consistent with other findings in

the same field. Just like other research, the article mentions the multitude of effective

activities that help relieve stress.

5. 1 - “Those feelings don’t end there, but generally become cumulative over time”

2 - “Exercise is one of the best strategies for combating stress and managing heart

disease”

3 - “Physical activity improves your body’s ability to use oxygen and also improves

blood flow. Both of these changes have a direct effect on your brain
 6. This article is very useful due to it providing detailed information, in a concise format.

This source would make great use in the body of my thesis, where I will be detailing

some consistent general facts regarding the topics.

Summary 7

1. Jackson, Erica M. “STRESS RELIEF: The Role of Exercise in Stress Management :

ACSM's Health & Fitness Journal.” LWW, 1 May 2013,

https://journals.lww.com/acsm-healthfitness/Fulltext/2013/05000/STRESS_RELIEF__Th

e_Role_of_Exercise_in_Stress.6.aspx​.

2. Erica M. Jackson, the author of this research, is an associate professor at Delaware

University specializing in research of exercise’s impact on hypertension. Jackson has

produced many other studies of similar topic areas, and has worked at other institutions,

such as the University of Georgia. Being a professor and active research of this topic

area, Jackson’s work seems to be quite credible. On top of that, her works contain a

multitude of cited research from credible sources.

3. This piece explores the idea of stress reduction through exercise therapy. The writer

states in her abstract, she wishes for exercise to be a recognized solution to individuals

affected by stress disorders. Throughout this research, a well balance of scientific and

casual stances are taken in regards to the topic. A wide range of details are specified and

expanded on greatly. Unlike other pieces, this one further explores methods in further

depth.
 This research fits well within my boundaries. The information is valid and backed up by

sources and data gathering methods. The writer is definitely well versed in this topic area.

The information is very useful within my work.

4. Overall, this piece agrees with the consistent perspective that exercise does indeed play a

large role in stress relief. The writer details the various tips and activities related to this

topic to develop this conclusion. These facts provided are consistent across research and

add to the validity. Another way the writer develops a conclusion is through agreeable

statistics and scientific research.

5. 1 - “Exercise and stress research has typically focused on aerobic exercise”

2 - “sessions between 60 and 90 minutes performed 2 to 3 days per week were effective

in reducing stress and improving feelings of well-being”

3 - “Although exercise might be effective in helping an individual feel calmer who is

dealing with these types of stress, it will not solve the problem of major chronic or

regular stressors”

6. I believe this article would make best use anywhere in my thesis. The information

portrayed is very versatile and could be formatted in a conclusion, body, or introduction.

The multitude of studies will be useful to prove my point quantitatively.

Summary 8

1. “Exercise for Stress and Anxiety.” Anxiety and Depression Association of America,

ADAA,

https://adaa.org/living-with-anxiety/managing-anxiety/exercise-stress-and-anxiety​.
2. The ADAA (Anxiety and Depression Association of America )was founded in 1980 and

is a non-profit organization focused on educating and providing advice to those who

suffer from these disorders. Being a nonprofit, well developed organization, the ADAA is

very credible in their works, only focusing on their goal and not on profit. This

organization seems to provide very concrete logos information, therefore they are pretty

heavily logos based.

3. This research investigates the concept of stress relief through exercise and the tips/facts

associated with it. These ideas are mainly developed through physiological details and

statistical data, all while taking a stance based on a balance between statistical and

scientific data. Most of the references are references to other works on the ADAA

website.

The conclusions drawn in this piece seem to be quite reasonable. Data is gathered

through effective means such as random samples, and concepts are explained through

known physiological processes. The stance taken, like all other works on this topic, is

very logos based, almost no pathos.

4. This piece agrees with the common belief that exercise helps relieve stress. In many

areas, the research presents common findings and new facts regarding the topic. For

example, this article agrees with others that short, frequent exercises are far more

beneficial than distant, long workouts. An interesting detail introduced is that exercise in

the cold requires extra precautions to maintain the same impact.

5. 1 - “The most recent federal guidelines for adults recommend at least 2½ hours of

moderate-intensity physical activity (e.g. brisk walking) each week, 1¼ hours of a

 vigorous-intensity activity (such as jogging or swimming laps), or a combination of the

two”

2 - “...the effect can vary: Some people may respond positively, others may find it

doesn’t improve their mood much, and some may experience only a modest short-term

benefit”

3 - “...researchers found that those who got regular vigorous exercise were 25 percent less

likely to develop depression or an anxiety disorder over the next five years”

6. This article is a great fit for my thesis; I can use it in areas where I am expanding upon

general scientific facts and surveys. This information is especially usable when

developing idea made by the other ADAA article further.

Summary 9

1. “9 Exercises for Stress Relief.” ​EverydayHealth.com,​ 15 Nov. 2017,

https://www.everydayhealth.com/healthy-living/fitness/9-exercises-stress-relief/​.

2. Everyday Health is an organization concerned with providing the masses with updated,

valid health related information along with reporting the perspective of those involved in

health. Everyday Health states, “Our mission is to inspire and enable wellness each and

every day. Our vision: Wellness that is truly inspired and enabled.” To accomplish this

mission, Everyday Health is staffed with an editorial team that is thoroughly educated in

their respective health fields. The benefit of this editorial team, is that all content is peer

reviewed to provide the most valid information.

3. This research is quite different than any of the other sources. The writer seems to have

interviewed a multitude of professionals in the field, and conveyed the information in a

more instructional, casual format. The main body of the research contains various

exercises such as yoga and walking and how to go about applying these workouts. All of

this is sorted through a list with uniform formatting.

Based on the information portrayed in the article, and the methods used to deliver the

message, this article is very reasonable. Information is concise and backed up by

evidence.

4. This article certainly agrees with the common perspective that exercise relieves stress. In

this particular piece, the topic is not really debated between 2 perspectives, rather it

delivers information relevant to its viewpoint. As with other pieces, this article is very

logos heavy with no pathos, creating a more uniform piece.

5. 1 - “Research shows that women experience it more acutely than men and we’re more

susceptible to the physiological effects of chronic stress”

2 - “The human body isn’t designed to sit all day”

3 - “Running on a treadmill while watching TV really doesn’t cut it, Migdow says.

Instead, pursue activities that encourage the mind and the body to work together.”

6. This research seems to be a great addition to my thesis. The salient thing about this

specific article is the uniformity and how-to structure, creating an impactful way to

inform new individuals to the topic. I will most likely make use of this research in the

main body when instructing how to apply exercise for this purpose.
Summary 10

1. “The Mental Health Benefits of Exercise.” HelpGuide.org, 19 June 2019,

https://www.helpguide.org/articles/healthy-living/the-mental-health-benefits-of-exercise.

htm​.

2. Help Guide is a non-profit mental health and wellness site concerned with providing

readers with evidence based, consistent, and important mental health related information.

One thing I noticed is the site is ad free, entailing that it is truly a non-profit site;

therefore, they seem to be truly concerned with fulfilling their mission. All of the sites

staff are high degree individuals in fields related to health.

3. This article claim exercise is an effective way to relieve stress, all while expanding upon

the concept. The revealing qualities is the length and thoroughness. This article develops

the ideas through a balance of scientific research and statistical data. The format is

similar to a how-to but without the steps, similar to an expansive piece.

The conclusions drawn seem very reasonable because they are based on logos and not

emotions. As stated above, these concepts are developed through statistical data and

scientific research, which are inherently valid methods.

4. This article agrees with the widespread perspective that physical activity impacts an

individual's stress greatly. Being consistent and credible with the existing research done

helps create an understandable article. This article can be archived for further use in a

thesis.

5. 1 - “Studies show that exercise can treat mild to moderate depression as effectively as

antidepressant medication—but without the side-effects”

 2 - “Ever noticed how your body feels when you’re under stress? Your muscles may be

tense, especially in your face, neck, and shoulders, leaving you with back or neck pain, or

painful headaches”

3 - “The same endorphins that make you feel better also help you concentrate and feel

mentally sharp for tasks at hand”

6. This article will be of use in my thesis, the information is easy to understand and not

difficult to translate into thesis writing. The main area I would use this information would

be in the body of the text when describing the proven benefits of exercising.