Daily exercise can cut burnout risk by over 60 percent, study shows

People jog along the coastal road at Gwangalli Beach in Suyeong District, Busan, June 27, the first day a heat wave advisory was issued in the city this year. Yonhap

Exercising for at least 25 minutes a day at moderate or higher intensity, combined with 30 to 60 minutes of light activity, can reduce the risk of burnout by more than 60 percent, according to a new study.

Professors Jeon Sang-won, Cho Sung-joon and Kim Eun-su of Kangbuk Samsung Hospital’s psychiatry department recently published the findings in the Journal of Affective Disorders, reporting the first research to directly examine the link between physical activity and burnout among working adults, according to medical industry sources on Sunday.

Burnout is a state of mental, physical and emotional exhaustion caused by prolonged job stress, distinct from simple fatigue or overwork, and can have negative effects on organizations and society.

While exercise is known to help prevent depression, its role in preventing burnout among employees had not been thoroughly studied until now.

The team surveyed 7,973 workers who underwent workplace health checkups at the hospital between 2020 and 2022, analyzing their physical activity over the past seven days and their burnout levels.

Activity intensity was classified as light (walking), moderate (leisure cycling, table tennis) or vigorous (fast cycling, aerobics), and burnout was measured through symptoms such as emotional exhaustion and cynicism.

Results showed that 15.8 percent of participants, or 1,262 people, were experiencing burnout, with prevalence decreasing as physical activity increased.

Those who engaged in at least 25 minutes of moderate or vigorous exercise along with 30 to 60 minutes of light activity each day had a 62 percent lower risk of burnout.

Even without reaching 60 minutes of light activity, consistently doing at least 25 minutes of moderate or higher-intensity exercise still correlated with reduced burnout risk.

“This study goes beyond simply looking at whether people exercise, analyzing the mental health effects of different combinations of intensity and duration under everyday conditions,” Jeon said. “Making time to move your body, even a few times a week, can be the first step in protecting your mental well-being.”

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, a sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.