MSGID: 1:317/3 64002665   
   PID: hpt/lnx 1.9.0-cur 2019-01-08   
   TID: hpt/lnx 1.9.0-cur 2019-01-08   
    Physical activity can help mental health in pre-teen years    
      
     Date:   
         March 1, 2023   
     Source:   
         University of Edinburgh   
     Summary:   
         Regular physical activity can improve adolescents' mental health   
         and help with behavioral difficulties, research suggests. Engaging   
         in regular moderate to vigorous physical activity at age 11 was   
         associated with better mental health between the ages of 11 and 13,   
         the study found.   
      
      
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   FULL STORY   
   ==========================================================================   
   Regular physical activity can improve adolescents' mental health and   
   help with behavioural difficulties, research suggests.   
      
      
   ==========================================================================   
   Engaging in regular moderate to vigorous physical activity at age 11   
   was associated with better mental health between the ages of 11 and 13,   
   the study found.   
      
   Physical activity was also associated with reduced hyperactivity and   
   behavioural problems, such as loss of temper, fighting with other   
   children, lying, and stealing, in young people.   
      
   Researchers from the Universities of Edinburgh, Strathclyde, Bristol,   
   and Georgia in the United States explored data from the Children of   
   the 90s study (also known as the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and   
   Children; ALSPAC).   
      
   They looked at the levels of physical activity of 4755 11-year-olds   
   which was measured using devices.   
      
   The devices recorded levels of moderate physical activity -- typically   
   defined as brisk walking or cycling -- as well as vigorous activity   
   which boosts heart rate and breathing, such as aerobic dancing, jogging   
   or swimming.   
      
   The young people and their parents reported on their levels of depressive   
   symptoms from age 11 and at age 13 years. Participants' parents and   
   teachers were also quizzed about the young people's general behaviour   
   and emotional difficulties.   
      
   In analysing the impact of moderate to vigorous exercise on the young   
   people's mental health and behaviour, the team also considered factors   
   such as age, sex and socio-economic status.   
      
   They found that higher levels of moderate or intense physical activity   
   had a small but detectable association with decreases in depressive   
   symptoms and emotional difficulties.   
      
   Regular exercise had a small but detectable association with reduced   
   behavioural problems, even after controlling for other possible   
   influences, the study found.   
      
   The findings suggest regular moderate and intense physical activity may   
   have a small protective influence on mental health in early adolescence,   
   researchers say.   
      
   Dr Josie Booth, of the University of Edinburgh's Moray House School of   
   Education and Sport, said: "This study adds to the increasing evidence   
   base about how important physical activity is for all aspects of young   
   people's development -- it can help them feel better, and do better   
   at school.   
      
   Supporting young people to lead healthy active lives should be   
   prioritised."  Researchers say the study is the first to offer such   
   a comprehensive approach to examining mental health and exercise in   
   young people.   
      
   Professor John Reilly, at the University of Strathclyde, said: "While   
   it might seem obvious that physical activity improves mental health the   
   evidence for such a benefit in children and young people has been scarce,   
   so the study findings are important. The findings are also important   
   because levels of moderate-to-vigorous intensity activity globally are   
   so low in pre-teens globally -- less than a third achieve the 60 minutes   
   per day recommended by the WHO and UK Health Departments."  The study   
   is published in Mental Health and Physical Activity.   
      
   The research was funded by the Bupa Foundation. Researchers used data   
   from the Children of the 90s study, also known as the ALSPAC birth   
   cohort, based at the University of Bristol. The study is a long-term   
   health-research project that enrolled more than 14,000 pregnant women   
   in 1991 and 1992.   
      
   Children of the 90s has been following the health and development of the   
   parents and their children in detail and is currently recruiting the   
   children and the siblings of the original children into the study. It   
   receives core funding from the Medical Research Council, the Wellcome   
   Trust and the University of Bristol.   
      
       * RELATED_TOPICS   
             o Health_&_Medicine   
                   # Fitness # Children's_Health # Mental_Health_Research   
                   # Teen_Health   
             o Mind_&_Brain   
                   # Child_Psychology # Child_Development # Mental_Health   
                   # Depression   
       * RELATED_TERMS   
             o General_fitness_training o Public_health o Physical_exercise   
             o Health_science o Substance_abuse o Psychology o   
             Philosophy_of_mind o Fatigue_(physical)   
      
   ==========================================================================   
   Story Source: Materials provided by University_of_Edinburgh. Note:   
   Content may be edited for style and length.   
      
      
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   Journal Reference:   
      1. Josephine N. Booth, Andy R. Ness, Carol Joinson, Phillip   
      D. Tomporowski,   
         James M.E. Boyle, Sam D. Leary, John J. Reilly. Associations   
         between physical activity and mental health and behaviour in   
         early adolescence.   
      
         Mental Health and Physical Activity, 2023; 24: 100497 DOI: 10.1016/   
         j.mhpa.2022.100497   
   ==========================================================================   
      
   Link to news story:   
   https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/03/230301210307.htm   
      
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