Journal profile · PSYCHIATRY
Mental Health and Physical Activity
ISSN 1755-2966 · eISSN 1878-0199 · Elsevier
Mental Health and Physical Activity: CAS Zone 3 · Medicine (2025 upgraded edition); impact factor 3.2; hybrid open access; APC about USD 3,360; review about 165 days (submission to acceptance, publisher); 67 articles in 2025; indexed in SSCI and Scopus.
Scope
Aims, scope and focus
Mental Health and Physical Activity is published by Elsevier and is in Zone 3 of Medicine in the CAS Journal Ranking (2025 upgraded edition). By OpenAlex counts of its recent articles, its largest topics are Physical Activity and Health, Behavioral Health and Interventions and Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet, together about 44.2% of its articles. (generated from OpenAlex topic counts and CAS ranking data)
Mental Health and Physical Activity is an international forum for scholarly reports on any aspect of relevance to advancing our understanding of the relationship between mental health and physical activity. We prioritize studies involving clinical populations, especially those with clearly stated and immediate treatment implications. Please note that papers which focus exclusively on mental health, or exclusively on physical activity, will not be considered. Manuscripts will be considered for publication which deal with high quality research, comprehensive research reviews, and critical reflection of applied or research issues. The journal is open to the use of diverse methodological approaches. Reports of practice will need to demonstrate academic rigour, preferably through analysis of programme effectiveness, and go beyond mere description.The aims of Mental Health and Physical Activity are:To foster the inter-disciplinary development and understanding of the mental health and physical activity field;To develop research designs and methods to advance our understanding; To promote the publication of high quality research on the effects of physical activity (interventions and a single session) on a wide range of dimensions of mental health and psychological well-being (e.g., depression, anxiety and stress responses, mood, cognitive functioning and neurological disorders, such as dementia, self-esteem and related constructs, psychological aspects of quality of life among people with physical and mental illness, sleep, addictive disorders, eating disorders), from both efficacy and effectiveness trials; To promote high quality research on the biophysical and psychosocial mechanisms involved to help our understanding of the link between physical activity and mental health, and guide intervention development; To provide an evidence-based source for professionals working in the field of mental health and a forum to consider service delivery issues.Notice to Authors Wishing to Submit to MENPA Mental Health and Physical Activity (MENPA) is becoming increasingly competitive. We continue to receive many more manuscripts than we can possibly publish. Therefore, in order to reduce any delay in publishing the best science, the following guidelines should be considered prior to submitting a manuscript, in addition to guidance from EQUATOR (https://www.equator-network.org/).The types of studies given the highest priority are the following:Etiologic or experimental studies testing a specific hypothesis or highlighting a specific mechanism relating physical activity or inactivity to mental health.Prospective or longitudinal studies.Randomised controlled trials, or related protocol papers which follow CONSORT guidelines. All submitted manuscripts reporting data from randomized controlled trials must include data on adherence to the trial intervention(s). Manuscripts that do not report adherence data will not be considered. We highly recommend that both intention-to-treat and per protocol analyses are included.Studies that are truly innovative and involve in-depth or novel data collection and analysis (including both quantitative and qualitative methods), or advance research methods.High quality, novel systematic reviews (based on quantitative and qualitative studies) that follow PRISMA guidelines.The following types of manuscripts will be given the lowest priority and are the most likely to be rejected without review:Small, cross-sectional, descriptive studies without any innovative features.Studies having no control or reference group, unless they are clearly part of a step in testing, using mixed methods, the feasibility and acceptability of an intervention within a larger program of study.Studies that involve statistical hypothesis testing of intervention effects when there is no justification for the sample size.Studies consisting of non-clinical samples, unless they clearly add to our understanding of the physical activity and well-being r
From the journal's Aims & Scope
Research area (LetPub): PSYCHIATRY
Editor-in-chief Mats HallgrenPublisher website
Editorial board by country: 5 in mainland China (about 10%); most named United States 16, United Kingdom 8, Australia 7, Mainland China 5, Taiwan, China 2 (49 members with a country) Editorial board ↗Publisher website ·
Main research topics OpenAlex counts of recent articles; shares are approximate
- Physical Activity and HealthMedicine23.3%
- Behavioral Health and InterventionsPsychology12%
- Obesity, Physical Activity, DietMedicine8.9%
- Eating Disorders and BehaviorsPsychology8.7%
- Children's Physical and Motor DevelopmentPsychology4.1%
- Diverse Scientific and Economic StudiesEconomics, Econometrics and Finance3.4%
- Educational Robotics and EngineeringComputer Science3.3%
- Human auditory perception and evaluationEngineering3.3%
Rankings & indexing
CAS ranking and database indexing
CAS Journal Ranking
CAS Journal Ranking, upgraded edition (March 2025)Medicine Zone 3
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Medicine | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Psychiatry | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Psychology, Clinical | Zone 3 |
Top journal: noReview journal: no
CAS Xinrui Journal Ranking (March 2026)Medicine Zone 3
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Medicine | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Psychology, Clinical | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Psychiatry | Zone 3 |
Top journal: noReview journal: not marked
CAS Journal Ranking, previous upgraded edition (December 2023)Medicine Zone 3
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Medicine | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Psychiatry | Zone 3 |
Top journal: noReview journal: no
Database indexing
SSCIScopusLetPub
International journal early-warning lists: not listed in any editionLetPub
Editions, and major and minor categories, are shown separately and never merged into one zone; check which edition your institution uses before you submit or report.
Metrics
Impact metrics and publication volume
Impact
- Impact factor
- 3.2LetPub ·
- Impact factor (publisher)
- 3.1Publisher website ·
- CiteScore 2026-06
- 4.5LetPub ·
- CiteScore (publisher)
- 4.5Publisher website ·
- SJR 2026-06
- 1.12LetPub ·
- SNIP 2026-06
- 1.02LetPub ·
- h-index
- 67OpenAlex ·
- i10-index
- 381OpenAlex ·
- 2-year mean citedness
- 3.07OpenAlex ·
- Self-citation rate
- 3.2%LetPub ·
- Share of gold OA articles
- 41.36%LetPub ·
Volume
- Articles per year
- 63LetPub ·
Articles by year OpenAlex count · 752 in total · the current year is incomplete
| Year | Articles | Open access | Citations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 68 | 30 | 35 |
| 2025 | 67 | 41 | 138 |
| 2024 | 77 | 51 | 478 |
| 2023 | 59 | 36 | 684 |
| 2022 | 52 | 26 | 727 |
| 2021 | 47 | 22 | 563 |
Sources count differently and were observed at different times, so each source's own value is kept; "publisher" marks figures from the journal's website.
Review & acceptance
Review time and acceptance
Publisher-reported review time from the journal's website
165 dayssubmission to acceptance
The publisher's own definition applies; dates from this journal's articles in the last 24 months are not available yet, so the publisher's figure is used.
Figures by source
- Submission to first decision
- 9 daysPublisher website ·
- First decision after review
- 82 daysPublisher website ·
- Submission to acceptance
- 165 daysPublisher website ·
- Acceptance to publication
- 2 daysPublisher website ·
- Peer review
- Double anonymous peer reviewPublisher website
Community reports come from authors' own submissions (confidence 0.5) and are not a promise from the journal; for publisher figures, the journal's own definitions apply.
Fees & open access
APC and open-access policy
Hybrid open accessLetPub
A subscription journal in which authors can pay to publish their article open access.
| Source | APC | Fee waiver | License | Observed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OpenAlex | USD 3,360 / EUR 3,140 / GBP 2,690 / JPY 416,740 | — | — | |
| Publisher website | USD 3,190 | — | — |
A hybrid journal charges the APC only when the author chooses open access; publishing under the subscription model is usually free.
The journal's website is authoritative for fees; sources were observed at different times and each keeps its own value, without averaging.
Submission
Article types and submission policies (journal website)
What to prepare7 items from the author guidelines
- Abstract
- ≤ 250 words
- Keywords
- 1–7
- Manuscript length
- ≤ 6,000 words
- Reference style
- APA
- Highlights
- Required
- Graphical abstract
- Optional
- Not considered
- papers which focus exclusively on mental health; papers which focus exclusively on physical activity
Article types accepted6, with length limits
- commentaryThese are short pieces written to accompany the publication of impactful full-length research reports. Invited by the Editor, they are limited to 900-1000 words…main text ≤ 900 words · references ≤ 10
- full-length research reportsFull-length research reports: The chief criteria for the acceptance of submitted papers are the quality, originality, and clarity of the work reported, addressi…Length not stated
- letters to the editorThese should be of high scientific quality, contain less than 500 words, and cite no more than 5 scientific references. If the letter is directed to a paper pub…main text ≤ 500 words
- reviewng a mechanistic model when applicable. Reviews consist of approximately 6,000 words of text and no more than 100 scientific references. Reviewsmain text ≤ 6,000 words
- reviewsReviews: The journal publishes invited or unsolicited reviews on a contemporary topic, discussed authoritatively with the aim of providing a solid, and often no…Length not stated
- short communicationthis format. Papers will be considered short communications if the text, references, and a maximum of two tables or figures (or one of each) are limited to 2,00…main text ≤ 2,000 words
Policy excerpts from the journal's websiteAI use, Authorship, Conflicts of interest, Publication ethics, License & copyright, Open access, Peer review, Preprints
- AI use Declaration of generative AI use
Authors must declare the use of generative AI tools in the manuscript preparation process upon submission of the paper.Generative AI and AI-assisted technologies (“AI tools”) have been rapidly adopted in research and scholarly publishing, offering significant benefits while requiring clear standards for responsible and transparent use.Authors preparing a manuscript for this journal may use AI tool…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Authorship Group authorship
Group authorship refers to the attribution of an article to a defined and named group of authors whose members have contributed to the work. Examples include research consortia, clinical trial groups, collaborative networks, task forces or working groups, expert panels or consensus groups, and participatory research groups. Group authorship must be declared on the title page at submission. When av…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Conflicts of interest Declaration of competing interests
All authors must disclose any financial and personal relationships with other people or organizations that could inappropriately influence or bias their work. Examples of potential competing interests include:EmploymentConsultanciesStock ownershipHonorariaPaid expert testimonyPatent applications or registrationsGrants or any other fundingAffiliation with the journal as an Editor or Advisory Board …
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Publication ethics
Ethics in publishing Model summary
Authors must follow ethical guidelines stated in Elsevier's Publishing Ethics Policy.
Source ↗Publisher website ·- License & copyright License options
Authors will be offered open access user license options which will determine how you, and third parties, can reuse your open access article. We advise that you review these options and any funding body license requirements before selecting a license option.
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Open access Open access
We refer you to our open access information page to learn about open access options for this journal.
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Peer review Peer review
Double anonymized peer review Model summary
This journal follows a double anonymized review process. Your submission will initially be assessed by our editors. If your submission is deemed suitable, it will typically be sent to be reviewed by a minimum of two reviewers for an independent expert assessment of the scientific quality. The decision as to whether your article is accepted or rejected for publication will be made by our editors.Re…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Preprints Preprints
Preprint sharing Model summary
Preprint sharingAuthors may share preprints in line with Elsevier's article sharing policy. Sharing preprints, such as on a preprint server, will not count as prior publication.We advise you to read our policy on multiple, redundant or concurrent publication.
Source ↗Publisher website ·
Excerpts are quoted from the journal's website; "model summary" lines are written by Workers AI and checked against the text. The journal's website is authoritative.
Profile
Publication details and official links
- Publisher
- Elsevier
- ISSN
- 1755-2966
- Electronic ISSN
- 1878-0199
- Official links
- Journal homepage ↗LetPub
- Submission system ↗Publisher website
- Special issues ↗Publisher website
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about Mental Health and Physical Activity
What CAS zone is Mental Health and Physical Activity in?
In the 2025 upgraded edition of the CAS Journal Ranking, Mental Health and Physical Activity is in Zone 3 of Medicine, and in Zone 3 of the minor category Psychiatry / Psychology, Clinical. In the 2026 Xinrui edition it is in Zone 3 of Medicine. Zones from different editions, and from major and minor categories, are not interchangeable.
What is the impact factor of Mental Health and Physical Activity?
The latest impact factor listed by LetPub is 3.2; CiteScore 4.5, h-index 67.
How long does peer review take at Mental Health and Physical Activity?
The publisher reports about 165 days (submission to acceptance). Article statistics cover accepted papers only, publisher figures follow the journal's own definitions, and community reports come from authors' own submissions; none is a promise from the journal.
What are the manuscript requirements of Mental Health and Physical Activity?
According to the journal's author guidelines: Abstract: ≤ 250 words; Keywords: 1–7; Manuscript length: ≤ 6,000 words; Reference style: APA; Highlights: Required; Graphical abstract: Optional. A model extracted these from the author guidelines and each was checked against the text; check the latest version on the journal's website before submitting.
Where are the editorial board members of Mental Health and Physical Activity based?
Of the 49 board members whose country the journal's board page names, 5 (about 10%) are in mainland China; the countries named most often are United States (16), United Kingdom (8) and Australia (7). Counted from the institutions listed on the board page; for reference only.
Which databases index Mental Health and Physical Activity?
According to LetPub and DOAJ records, Mental Health and Physical Activity is indexed in SSCI and Scopus.
Is Mental Health and Physical Activity open access, and what is the APC?
Mental Health and Physical Activity is a hybrid journal. For open-access publication: APC about USD 3,360.
Sources and updates
The facts on this page come from LetPub, Publisher website, OpenAlex; every figure is tagged with its source and the date it was observed, and conflicting values are kept per source. LetPub source page: view ↗ (archived 2026-08-25). Last updated: .