Children and teens moving towards mental health
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.25753/BirthGrowthMJ.v30.i3.20048Keywords:
adolescent, child, exercise, mental healthAbstract
Childhood and adolescence are periods of rapid growth when several structural and behavioral transformations take place. It is important to identify positive environmental exposures during these years and establish behavioral patterns that may have a positive effect on the development of these populations. There is an increasing body of evidence showing that regular exercise has unquestionable physical, social, and psychological benefits, contributing to general health and wellbeing.
The aim of this study was to review the available literature regarding the impact of regular physical activity on the mental health of children and adolescents and to highlight possible mechanisms involved in this association.
Study findings suggest that there is a global positive impact of physical activity on mental health, with the strongest effect related to the decrease of depressive symptoms. Other benefits include improvement in self-esteem, cognitive function, and sleep quality and a reduction of externalizing behaviors and anxiety symptoms. Competitive and esthetical sports were an exception.
Overall, the current evidence allows recommending regular physical activity in children and adolescents, not only for its organic but also mental health benefits.
Downloads
References
Murray CJL, Lopez AD, World Health Organization, World Bank, Harvard School of Public Health. The global burden of disease: a comprehensive assessment of mortality and disability from diseases, injuries, and risk factors in 1990 and projected to 2020: summary. Geneva: World Health Organization; 1996. http://www.who.int/iris/handle/10665/41864.
Rodriguez-Ayllon M, Cadenas-Sanchez C, Estevez-Lopez F, Muñoz NE, Mora- Gonzalez J, Migueles JH, et al. Role of physical activity and sedentary behavior in the mental health of preschoolers, children and adolescents: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Sports Med. 2019:1–28.
Kessler RC, Angermeyer M, Anthony JC, DE Graaf R, Demyttenaere K, Gasquet I, et al. Lifetime prevalence and age-of-onset distributions of mental disorders in the World Health Organization’s World Mental Health Survey Initiative. World Psychiatry 2007; 6: 168–76.
Campos CG, Muniz LA, Belo VS, Romano MCC, Lima MC. Adolescents’ knowledge about the benefits of physical exercises to mental health. Ciênc. saúde coletiva. 2019; 24(8): 2951-8.
Biddle SJH, Asare M. Physical activity and mental health in children and adolescents: a review of reviews. British Journal of Sports Medicine. 2011; 45(11): 886–95.
Silva GC, Silva RAS, Cavalcante N, Jorge L. Saúde mental e níveis de atividade física em crianças: uma revisão sistemática. Cad Bras Ter Ocup. 2017; 25(3): 607-15.
Cid L, Silva C, Alves J. Actividade física e bem-estar psicológico - perfil dos participantes no programa de exercício e saúde de Rio Maior. Motricidade. 2007; 3(2): 47-55.
Craft LL, Perna FM. The Benefits of Exercise for the Clinically Depressed. The Primary Care Companion to The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry. 2004; 06(03): 104–11.
Internacional Society of Sport Psychology. Physical Activity and Psychological Benefits: A Position Statement. The Sport Psychologist. 1992; 6(2):199–203.
Fonseca EBD. O esporte como fator de desenvolvimento e de saúde mental na criança e no adolescente. Revista Brasileira de Medicina do Esporte. 1997; 3(3): 82–3.
Batista WS, Ornellas FH. Exercício físico e depressão: relação entre o exercício físico e o grau de depressão. RBPFEX. 2013; 7(42): 474-82.
Caspersen CJ, Powell KE, Christenson GM. Physical activity, exercise, and physical fitness: definitions and distinctions for health- related research. Public Health Rep 1985; 100:126–31.
Koumantareas J, Oliveira RCD. Sports and health from the perspective of physical education professionals. Motriz: Revista de Educação Física. 2018; 24(4): e101870.
Hoare E, Milton K, Foster C, Allender S. The associations between sedentary behaviour and mental health among adolescents: a systematic review. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity. 2016; 13(1): 108.
Lourenço BDS, Peres MADA, Porto IS, Oliveira RMPD, Dutra VFD. Physical activity as a therapeutic strategy in mental health: an integrative review with implication for nursing care. Escola Anna Nery. 2017; 21(3): e20160390.
Rothon C, Edwards P, Bhui K, Viner RM, Taylor S, Stansfeld SA. Physical activity and depressive symptoms in adolescents: a prospective study. BMC Medicine. 2010; 8(1): 32.
Dimitri P, Joshi K, Jones N. Moving more: physical activity and its positive effects on long term conditions in children and young people. Archives of Disease in Childhood. 2020;105(11):1035-40.
Martikainen S, Pesonen A-K, Lahti J, Heinonen K, Feldt K, Pyhälä R, et al. Higher Levels of Physical Activity Are Associated With Lower Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenocortical Axis Reactivity to Psychosocial Stress in Children. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. 2013;98(4):E619-27.
Pascoe M, Bailey AP, Craike M, Carter T, Patten R, Stepto N, et al. Physical activity and exercise in youth mental health promotion: a scoping review. BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine. 2020; 6(1): e000677.
Korczak DJ, Madigan S, Colasanto M. Children’s Physical Activity and Depression: A Meta-analysis. Pediatrics. 2017;139(4): e20162266.
Alves CFA, Silva RCR, Assis AMO, Souza CO, Pinto EJ, Frainer DES. Fatores associados à inatividade física em adolescentes de 10-14 anos de idade, matriculados na rede pública de ensino do município de Salvador, BA. Rev. bras. epidemiol. 2012; 15(4): 858-70.
Machado PX, Cassepp-Borges V, Dell´aglio DD, Koller SH. O impacto de um projeto de educação pelo esporte no desenvolvimento infantil. Psicologia Escolar e Educacional. 2007; 11(1):51–62.
Silva PVC, Costa Jr ÁL. Efeitos da atividade física para a saúde de crianças e adolescentes. Psicologia Argumento. 2017; 29(64): 41-50.
Tubic T, Djordjic V. Exercise Effects on Mental Health of Preschool Children. Anales De Psicología / Annals of Psychology. 2013; 29(1): 249-56.
Hillman CH, Castelli DM, Buck SM. Aerobic fitness and neurocognitive function in healthy preadolescent children. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2005; 37:1967–74.
Mello MT, Boscolo RA, Esteves AM, Tufik S. O exercício físico e os aspectos psicobiológicos. Rev Bras Med Esporte. 2005; 11(3): 203-7.
Driver HS, Taylor SR. Exercise and sleep. Sleep Medicine Reviews. 2000; 4(4): 387-402.
Kremer P, Elshaug C, Leslie E, Toumbourou JW, Patton GC, Williams J. Physical activity, leisure-time screen use and depression among children and young adolescents. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport. 2014; 17(2):183–7.
Iannotti RJ, Janssen I, Haug E, Kololo H, Annaheim B, Borraccino A. Interrelationships of adolescent physical activity, screen-based sedentary behaviour, and social and psychological health. International Journal of Public Health. 2009; 54(S2):191–8.
Schneider S, Weiß M, Thiel A, Werner A, Mayer J, Hoffmann H, et al. Body dissatisfaction in female adolescents: extent and correlates. Eur J Pediatr. 2013; 172:373–84.
Ribeiro LG, Veiga GV. Imagem corporal e comportamentos de risco para transtornos alimentares em bailarinos profissionais. Rev Bras Med Esporte. 2010; 16(2): 99-102.
Guimarães AD, Machado SP, França TC, Calado IL. Transtornos alimentares e insatisfação com a imagem corporal em bailarinos. Rev Bras Med Esporte. 2014; 20(4):267-71.
Weber S, Puta C, Lesinski M, Gabriel B, Steidten T, Bär K-J, et al. Symptoms of Anxiety and Depression in Young Athletes Using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Frontiers in Physiology. 2018; 9:182.
Rocha VVS, Osório FDL. Associations between competitive anxiety, athlete characteristics and sport context: evidence from a systematic review and meta-analysis. Archives of Clinical Psychiatry. 2018; 45(3):67–74.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2021 Sara Pires, Diana Vieira, Maria Castello Branco
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
Copyright and access
This journal offers immediate free access to its content, following the principle that providing free scientific knowledge to the public provides greater global democratization of knowledge.
The works are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial 4.0 International license.
Nascer e Crescer – Birth and Growth Medical Journal do not charge any submission or processing fee to the articles submitted.
