How Physical Activity May Impact Depressive Symptoms in Children

Researchers in JAMA Pediatrics recently published a study analyzing the impact of physical activity on depressive symptoms in children and adolescents and found that physical activity interventions improved and reduced the rate of depressive symptoms more than controlled conditions.

The benefits of physical activity on physical health have been widely researched and agreed upon. Its ability to mitigate chronic disease and assist in managing chronic pain has made exercise a highly recommended lifestyle habit and adjunctive therapy for many diseases. The benefits of exercise do not stop at physical health but extend to mental health.

According to the publication, approximately 6.2% of children and adolescents worldwide have depression, making it the second most common mental disorder for that age bracket. Depression in early childhood can impact social skills and psychological and physical health and may put patients at risk for developing future mental disorders. Researchers in the JAMA publication note that two-thirds of children with depressive symptoms develop depressive or anxiety disorders in adulthood. Based on these statistics, minimizing depressive symptoms in childhood and adolescence may improve health in adulthood, in addition to reducing unfavorable outcomes in pediatric populations.

The investigators in JAMA Pediatrics collected data from 21 studies that assessed physical activity interventions and depressive symptoms in the targeted patient population. These studies included data from 2,441 participants, with 47% male and 53% female. While the participants’ ages varied, the average age was 14.

The researchers found that, on average, physical activity interventions helped improve depressive symptoms, reducing the rate of depressive symptoms more than controlled conditions. However, with little follow-up data, they could not conclusively determine the impact of physical activity on depressive symptoms in the long term.

“Physical activity interventions may be used to reduce depressive symptoms in children and adolescents. Greater reductions in depressive symptoms were derived from participants older than 13 years and with a mental illness and depression diagnosis. The association with physical activity parameters such as frequency, duration, and supervision of the sessions remains unclear and needs further investigation,” concluded researchers in the publication.

Scientists and providers have yet to understand the relationship between physical activity and mental health definitively; however, data from this study, alongside many others, suggests that advocating for regular physical activity across a range of ages may lead to improved health outcomes.