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In this chapter, the experiments set out to test whether physical fitness, life stress, and health are directly related to each other. To test this, the researcher used correlational studies. Correlational research is an investigation of the relationships between two variables. The data found is reported as a correlation coefficient, which is measured on a scale from -1.00 to 1.00. The strongest relationship is negatively or positively as close to 1.00 as possible. The weakest relationship is positively or negatively as close to 0 as possible. A correlation with a negative value shows an inverse relationship while a positive value shows a relationship where variables fluctuate together. A strong relationship is important because it allows a researcher to make a quite accurate prediction of the value of one variable if they know the other value. However, a strong relationship does not necessarily mean that there is a causal link between the variables. The participants involved in the experiment were a group of introductory psychology students who were followed for a college academic year. The group numbered 110 and was composed of 37 males and 73 females. Ninety of these participants completed the full year. The drop-outs were compared with the students who completed the program, no considerable difference between the two groups was found. A number of measures both subjective and objective were taken over the course of the year. Objective measures included a record of appointments at the health center, heart-rate while resting, and physical fitness test on an ergocycle. Subjective tests were physical activity questionnaires, participant reports of medical conditions, and a survey to measure unpleasant life experiences. When the probability of an event occurring by chance was greater then 5 percent, the statistic is considered insignificant. The findings which were found to be statistically significant were considered in the experiment. The results of the experiment as shown on page 28 in the book were as follows. Positive Correlations included relating physical fitness to self-reports of exercise, stressful life events to psychological distress, self-reports of illness to stressful life events, visits to the health center to stressful life events, psychological distress to self-reports of illness, health center visits to resting heart rates, self-reported illness to health center visits. All positive correlation coefficients were between (r = +.22, and r = +.37). Negative Correlations included relating self-reported exercise with heart rate at rest, physical fitness with resting heart rate, and psychological distress with self-reported exercise. The negative correlation coefficients ranged from (r = -.18 to r = -.41). The final factor in the correlational study was sex differences in participants. Males were moderately linked to both self-reported exercise and physical fitness. Females were weakly linked to both self-reported illness and health center visits. After looking over the data, it was found that the tests supported associations between fitness, health, and stress. Participants who were found to be physically fit objectively were both psychologically and physically healthier. Lower resting heart rates and less psychological stress supported this claim. Also, less health complaints were related lower levels of stress and less psychological distress. Higher levels of stress were associated with psychological distress and illness reports in those who were not physically fit.

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