Abstract

Stress management and regulating cortisol levels are essential for maintaining good health. Regular exercise has been linked to reducing stress and making sleep better. However, limited research has looked at how physical activity affects cortisol levels, stress, and sleep in adult men. This study investigated how doing aerobic exercise for 12 weeks can affect stress levels and the way the body regulates cortisol (a hormone that helps manage stress) in young men from Peshawar. The study utilized a pre-post intervention design, including assessments of stress levels and cortisol measurements before and after the exercise program. The findings of the study were blood serum cortisol levels decreased from 142.98 to 106.88 with a significance value of p <.000 while the perceived stress scale dropped from 32.76 to 23.71 with a significance value of p <.000. Aerobic exercise has the potential benefits of reducing stress and modulating cortisol levels in this population.