Impact of a Daily Exercise Programme: Insights from the Move2Thrive

The growing burden of mental ill-health, chronic stress, and physical inactivity has intensified interest in scalable, community-based wellbeing interventions. Digital programmes that integrate movement and mental-health support are increasingly visible; however, robust, real-world datasets examining sustained daily engagement remain limited. This research note summarises key insights from the Move2Thrive dataset, generated through a 12-week digital community programme delivered under the Bridging Minds Project.

Move2Thrive was designed as a seven-day-a-week digital intervention integrating daily physical activity, mindfulness practices, and culturally responsive mental-health support. The programme engaged 220 adults across the United Kingdom (78% women, 22% men; mean age 52.3 ± 13.7 years), a demographic often underrepresented in structured exercise and prevention research. Participants joined live online sessions each day, creating a consistent rhythm of engagement rather than episodic participation.

The dataset includes anonymised quantitative and qualitative data collected at baseline and programme completion. Outcomes were assessed across six wellbeing domains: number of physically active days, pain intensity, energy levels, mood, perceived stress, and self-efficacy. Validated measurement tools were employed, including the WHO-5 Wellbeing Index and the Numeric Pain Rating Scale. Statistical analyses comprised paired t-tests, effect size calculations, and correlation coefficients to explore within-participant change over time.

Results indicate substantial improvements across multiple domains. Overall wellbeing improved by 45%, accompanied by a 40% reduction in perceived stress and a 52% increase in self-efficacy. These changes were observed alongside high levels of engagement, with a mean daily reach of 220 participants and a retention rate of 78% over the 12-week period. Improvements in self-efficacy were moderately correlated with increases in activity days and reductions in stress, suggesting potential interdependence between behavioural activation and psychological confidence.

Importantly, the Move2Thrive dataset reflects real-world delivery rather than controlled experimental conditions. The programme was embedded within a community-led framework that prioritised accessibility, cultural responsiveness, and relational continuity. Qualitative reflections within the dataset highlight the role of daily structure, peer presence, and facilitator consistency in supporting sustained participation, particularly among individuals managing long-term stress, pain, or social isolation.

From a research and policy perspective, this dataset is notable for its integration of movement, mental health, and cultural inclusion within a single digital framework. To our knowledge, it represents one of the first open, community-based datasets linking daily physical activity with psychological wellbeing outcomes in a culturally responsive digital environment. As such, it offers valuable insights for researchers examining behavioural health change, for policymakers exploring preventative digital models, and for practitioners designing inclusive wellbeing programmes at scale.

While causal inference is beyond the scope of this evaluation, the findings contribute meaningful practice-based evidence supporting daily, community-embedded digital exercise programmes as a potentially effective component of equitable wellbeing strategies. The Move2Thrive dataset underscores the importance of frequency, continuity, and inclusion in shaping engagement and perceived impact—factors that warrant greater attention in future digital health research and service design.

Key Findings

The Move2Thrive dataset highlights several important findings relevant to digital wellbeing, behavioural health, and community-based prevention:

1. Significant improvements in overall wellbeing

Participants demonstrated a 45% improvement in wellbeing scores over the 12-week programme, as measured using validated wellbeing instruments. This suggests meaningful positive change associated with sustained daily engagement.

2. Reduction in perceived stress

Perceived stress decreased by 40%, indicating that integrating daily physical activity with mindfulness and mental-health support may be effective in stress regulation within community settings.

3. Strengthened self-efficacy

Self-efficacy increased by 52%, reflecting improved confidence in participants’ ability to manage their health, emotions, and daily challenges. Gains in self-efficacy were associated with increased activity days and reduced stress.

4. High engagement and retention

The programme achieved strong participation metrics, with a mean daily reach of 220 participants and a retention rate of 78% across seven-day-a-week delivery. This level of continuity is uncommon in digital wellbeing programmes and underscores the role of relational and community-based design.

5. Relevance for mid-life and older adults

With a mean participant age of 52.3 years, the findings demonstrate that digitally delivered, daily movement programmes can be accessible and acceptable beyond younger or tech-savvy populations.

6. Integration of movement, mental health, and cultural inclusion

The dataset provides early evidence that culturally responsive design and community facilitation may enhance engagement and perceived benefit in digital exercise and wellbeing interventions.

📄Full research: Sharma, N. (2025). Move2Thrive: Data Brief of Community-Based Daily Exercise for Inclusive Physical and Mental Wellbeing. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17519542