Physical Activity Interventions and Depression in Children and Adolescents

Abstract

2013) Physical activity interventions and depression in children and adolescents: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Sports Medicine, Data extraction: Studies were coded for methodological, participant, and study characteristics. 47Comprehensive Meta-Analysis version-2 software was used to compute effect sizes; with sub-group 48 This is a post-print version of the following article: Brown, Helen Elizabeth, Pearson, Natalie, Braithwaite, Rock E., Brown, Wendy J. and Biddle, Stuart J. H. (2013) Physical activity interventions and depression in children and adolescents: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Sports Medicine, analyses to identify moderating characteristics. Study quality was assessed using the Delphi 49 technique. 50Results: Nine studies were included (N= 581); most were school-based RCTs randomized by 51 individual. Studies used a variety of measurement tools to assess depressive symptoms. The 52 summary treatment effect was small but significant SE=0.09, 53 p=0.004). Sub-group analyses showed that methodological (e.g. studies with both education and PA 54 intervention; those with a higher quality score; and less than three months in duration) and 55 participant characteristics (e.g. single gender studies; those targeting overweight or obese groups) 56 contributed most to the reduction in depression. 57Conclusions: There was a small significant overall effect for PA on depression. More outcome-58focused, high quality trials are required to effectively inform the implementation of programs to 59 reduce depressive symptoms in children and adolescents.

Be Happy in your Work: The Role of Positive Psychology in Working with Change and Performance

“…There is now considerable evidence that participation in regular physical activity can reduce negative emotional symptoms including clinically diagnosed depressive symptoms (for recent meta-analyses, see Brown, Pearson, Braithwaite, Brown, & Biddle, 2013;Daley et al, 2015;Ekkekakis, 2015). Importantly, physical activity also relates to an increase in positive emotional symptoms and subjective well-being (Penedo & Dahn, 2005).…”

Correlation Between Self-Concept And The Level Of Motor Skills In Children

“…Participation in physical activity may improve psychological health and help prevent and treat the development of mental health disorders such as depression and anxiety (Ströhle, 2009;Biddle & Asare, 2011;Brown, Pearson & Braithwaite, et al, 2013). Evans & Roberts (1987) state that children could gain peer acceptance by participating in an activity which is valuated highly by children of the same age.…”

Positive Psychiatry

“…The positive impact of exercise on ADHD and depression, 91 positive parenting techniques on oppositional behavior, 92 and healthy diets on externalizing behavior 93 are but a few examples. Including elements of positive psychiatry in clinical approaches gives the clinician a number of new avenues of intervention beyond psychiatry’s traditional tools of medications and psychotherapy.…”