Body, Mind, and Expectations: What Young People Carry on Their Shoulders Today

“Ten years ago, I conducted research on the mental health of young people in Serbia, and even then, I noticed something that remains important today - engaging in sports is one of the strongest indicators of psychological well-being. That’s why I was especially pleased by a finding from a study conducted by Galenika, as part of the Zdravo dvadesete platform, which shows that more than half of young people are physically active. These findings are not just good news - they hold a deeper meaning for psychological health. Through my work with clients and years of research, I have come to understand that physical activity is more than just about health and appearance - it is a mechanism for closing the stress cycle. Stress is not just a mental tension - it is a physiological process. When we find ourselves in a stressful situation, the body enters a state of alert: the heart beats faster, muscles tense up, and breathing accelerates. When the stressful situation passes, our body often remains ‘trapped’ in stress mode. It’s not enough for the problem to disappear - the stress cycle needs to be closed. And this closure doesn’t happen in the mind, but in the body, through movement. That’s the moment when the brain and body align with the message: it’s okay, we survived. That’s why physical activity is so important - not just as a way to prevent illness, but as a way to regain a sense of control,” writes Mia Popić, PhD in Psychology, psychotherapist, and business psychologist. 

You can read the full article on the Nedeljnik magazine website.