Publication date: Available online 30 April 2019
Source: Mental Health and Physical Activity
Author(s): Xihe Zhu, Justin A. Haegele, Sean Healy
Abstract
Objectives
The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to examine associations between physical activity, screen-time, sleep duration, and their combinations based on 24-h movement guidelines with anxiety and depression among a nationally representative cohort aged 6–17 years in the US.
Methods
The 2016 National Survey of Children’s Health (NSCH) data from a representative sample of children (n = 15,010) aged 6–11 years and adolescents (n = 20,708) aged 12–17 years were analyzed using logistic regression. This analysis examined parent-reported demographics, lifestyle-related behavioral variables, adverse childhood experiences, and history of anxiety and depression.
Results
Physical activity participation was associated with anxiety and depression. Children with 0 days/week of physical activity were about twice more likely to have anxiety (Odds ratio (OR) = 2.19), and adolescents were over twice as likely to have anxiety (OR = 2.25) and depression (OR = 2.18), than peers with daily physical activity ≥ 60 min. There was no significant difference in the ORs of anxiety or depression between the children with daily physical activity and those with physical activity ≥60 min on 1–3 days/week or 4–6 days/week. Extracurricular activity participation and sleep duration were also significantly associated with anxiety and depression along with demographic variables such as race and weight status.
Conclusion
Some physical activity or organized extracurricular activity participation are associated with decreased odds of experiencing anxiety among children and adolescents, and depression among adolescents. Meeting all three 24-h movement guidelines was associated with lower ORs for anxiety for children and adolescents and depression among adolescents.