Physically active children are somewhat less likely to have emotional and behavioral problems

A study conducted in the United Kingdom over a two-year period looked at the relationship between physical activity and the emotional well-being of young adolescents aged 11 to 13 years. The study found that children who were more physically active tended to have fewer emotional and behavioral problems and less depressive symptoms. However, it is important to note that the strength of these associations was quite small. The study was published in Mental health and physical activity.

Depression, one of the most common mental disorders worldwide, often begins to develop during adolescence. It is a mood disorder characterized by persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and loss of interest or pleasure in most activities. Statistics show that it has been increasing in recent decades. The COVID-19 pandemic has particularly exacerbated mental health issues in younger people, especially during the lockdown period.

Early-onset depression in adolescence may have a more challenging outcome compared to depression that occurs later in life. This has led researchers to explore ways to prevent depression at this young age. Previous research has shown that low physical activity is a risk factor for depression in adults. Because of this, there are therapeutic programs that aim to reduce symptoms of depression and other mental disorders by engaging people suffering from these disorders in physical activity (eg hiking, surfing, etc.). But what about children?

Study author Josephine N. Booth and her colleagues wanted to investigate whether there is a relationship between levels of physical activity, depressive symptoms and behavioral difficulties in children/early youth. They conducted their analyzes on children participating in Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children, ALSPAC too short.

ALSPAC is an ongoing large longitudinal study examining a wide range of influences on children’s health and development. Women who were pregnant between April 1991 and the end of 1992 and who were resident in the former Avon Health Authority in South West England were invited to participate. The study collected data from 14,901 children from 1 year onwards.

In this study, researchers analyzed associations between overall physical activity levels and moderate and vigorous physical activity in these children at age 11, with levels of depressive symptoms and emotional and behavioral difficulties at ages 11 and 13. Levels of physical activity of these children were objectively measured with an actigraph accelerometer.

The Actigraph accelerometer is a wearable device used to measure and record a person’s physical activity and movement patterns over time. The participants had to wear it for seven consecutive days during the waking hours on their right hip. Depressive symptoms were measured using the Short Moods and Feelings Questionnaire (SMFQ). General emotional and behavioral difficulties were assessed using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ).

For these analyses, data from 4,755 participants were available (2,627 women). This occurred because not all children participating in the study attended the data collection clinic when asked or agreed to wear the actigraph. However, the researchers found only small differences in the characteristics of the children who provided data used in this study and those who did not.

On average, boys had 29 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity per day, while girls had 18. Moderate to vigorous physical activity accounted for 8% of total activity for boys and 5% for girls. Among girls, the level of moderate to vigorous physical activity at age 11 was associated with depressive symptoms at age 11, but not at age 13. There was no such association in boys.

Boys who increased their physical activity between the ages of 11 and 13 tended to have lower depressive symptoms. There was no such association among girls.

When the participants were divided into categories according to whether their level of moderate to vigorous physical activity increased, decreased or remained the same between the ages of 11 and 13, the results showed no association with depressive symptoms. However, increases in depressive symptoms between ages 11 and 13 were weakly associated with decreases in levels of moderate to vigorous physical activity and vice versa in both boys and girls.

Higher levels of moderate to vigorous physical activity were associated with lower emotional and behavioral problems (hyperactivity and problems with peers) in both boys and girls, both at ages 11 and 13.

In conclusion, the study found that higher levels of physical activity were associated with fewer depressive symptoms in girls at age 11, and an increase in physical activity between ages 11 and 13 was associated with reduced depressive symptoms in boys. In addition, more physical activity was associated with better emotional and behavioral well-being for both boys and girls, although the associations were small.

In conclusion, the study found that higher levels of physical activity were associated with fewer depressive symptoms in girls at age 11, and an increase in physical activity between ages 11 and 13 was associated with reduced depressive symptoms in boys. In addition, more physical activity was associated with better emotional and behavioral well-being for both boys and girls, although the associations were small.

The study, “Association between physical activity and mental health and behavior in early adolescence” was written by Josephine N. Booth, Andy R. Ness, Carol Joinson, Phillip D. Tomporowski, James ME Boyle, Sam D. Leary and John J. Reilly.