Physical activity and depressive symptoms in adolescents: a prospective study

Abstract

BackgroundThe frequency of mental illness amongst adolescents and its potential long-term consequences make it an important topic to research in relation to risk and protective factors. Research on the relationship between physical activity and depressive symptoms in adolescents is limited. There is a particular lack of evidence from longitudinal studies. This study examines the relationship between depression and physical activity using the Research with East London Adolescents: Community Health Survey (RELACHS).MethodsThis was a prospective cohort study. Participants were recruited from three Local Education Authority boroughs in East London in 2001 from year 7 (aged 11-12) and year 9 (aged 13-14) and were followed-up in 2003. All pupils in the 28 schools that took part were eligible for the study. Of the total 3,322 pupils eligible for the survey the overall response rate was 84% (2,789 pupils). A total of 2,093 (75%) pupils were also followed-up in 2003. The sample was multiethnic (73% of respondents were non-white) and deprived. Just under half of the sample was male (49%). Depressive symptoms were measured using the Short Moods and Feelings Questionnaire (SMFQ). Logistic regression analyses were used to examine the association between physical activity and depressive symptoms both cross-sectionally and longitudinally.ResultsAfter adjustments, there was evidence for a cross-sectional association between physical activity and depressive symptoms for both boys and girls at baseline, with a decrease in the odds of depressive symptoms of about 8% for each additional hour of exercise undertaken per week (boys: odds ratio (OR) = 0.92, 95% CI 0.85 to 0.99; girls: OR = 0.92, 95% CI 0.85 to 1.00). There was no evidence for an association between a change in physical activity from baseline to follow-up and depressive symptoms at follow-up.ConclusionsThis study provides some evidence for an association between level of physical activity and decreased depressive symptoms in adolescents. Further longitudinal research of these associations is required before physical activity can be recommended as an intervention for depression in adolescents.

The Relationship between Stress, Leisure Time Vigorous Physical Activity and Depressive Symptoms in Adolescents

“…Previous findings have shown that physical activity is related to a variety of emotional problems, including depression [9,16,18]. However, a three-year follow-up study of Sagatun et al found that physical activity was weakly associated with mental health in adolescents [14].…”

“…Previous studies have shown that physical activity has a range of positive psychological and physiological health benefits for adolescents and is an important component of a healthy lifestyle [9][10][11][12][13].However,the frequency of physical activity and exercise seem to decrease from childhood to adolescence, especially in girls [14,15]. Cross-sectional and longitudinal studies have stated that physical activity is beneficial in relation to depression in adolescents [9,[16][17][18]. Beneficial mechanisms explained by biological factors suggest that the relationship between physical activity and depression is mediated by acute physiological responses including an increase in endorphin production, monoamine circulation, or lower responses from stress [9].…”

“…Gerber, Holsboer-Trachsler, Pühse and Brand and Rothon et al suggest several explanations for how physical activity alleviates the negative effects of stress [18,21]. The first is the distraction hypothesis, where physical activity provides a "time out" that enhances mood and reduces arousal during periods of high stress.…”

“…As described, stress, physical activity and psychological health are highly related, and therefore likely to show changes during adolescence based on the impact of developmental shifts, challenges and transitions occurring in this period [3][4][5][6]17,18]. Physical activity might have as a possibility to reduce or neutralize the negative outcomes associated with different stressors [19].…”

Obesity, physical activity and traumatic dental injuries in adolescents from East London

“…This is in addition to the fact that only activities outside school hours were measured. Even though less variation in intensity and duration of physical activity occurs among adolescents during physical education classes, some students may be more active than others during free times at school (27). Objective measures that monitor energy expenditure can provide more comprehensive, quantitative assessments of physical activity.…”