Physical activity and mental health in children and adolescents.
Jocelyn (Junru) Liu
Stuart ‘s study in 2010 investigated physical activity and depression, anxiety, self-esteem and cognitive functioning in children and adolescents and to assess the association between sedentary behaviour and mental health by performing a brief review, included depression, anxiety/stress, self-esteem and cognitive functioning in children or adolescents.
Results assessed associations between sedentary behaviour and mental health. Physical activity has potentially beneficial effects for reduced depression, and physical activity interventions have been shown to have a small beneficial effect for reduced anxiety, and also can lead to improvements in self-esteem, at least in the short term. Reviews on physical activity and cognitive functioning have provided evidence that routine physical activity can be associated with improved cognitive performance and academic achievement, there is a negative associations between mental health and sedentary behaviour.
Stuart. J. H. B., Mavis. A. 2020. Physical activity and mental health in children and adolescents: review of reviews. Br J Dports Med 2011;45: 886-885. https://doi:10.1136/bjsports-2011-090185