Engaging in physical activity during early childhood, particularly participation in organised sports, may help protect against several mental health disorders during later childhood and adolescence, according to new research published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine. However, the study reveals that the protective effects of physical activity appear to vary between boys and girls, with differences depending on the mental health condition.
The global rise in mental health issues among children and teens has raised concerns, with stress vulnerability thought to contribute significantly to this increase. As physical activity is known to help build resilience against stress, researchers sought to determine whether certain periods in childhood are particularly beneficial for mental health outcomes.
To explore this, the study drew on data from the All Babies in Southeast Sweden (ABIS) Study, which included over 16,000 children born between October 1997 and 1999. The participants’ physical activity levels were tracked at ages 5, 8, and 11, with their mental health monitored up until the age of 18 through national health registries.
The results indicated that 15% of participants were diagnosed with at least one mental health disorder during childhood, with 4% facing multiple diagnoses. Additionally, around 30% of children had experienced a traumatic event by the age of 10. Researchers found that, on average, physical activity levels declined from just over 4 hours per day at age 5 to 2.5 hours per day by age 11.
At age 11, each additional hour of daily physical activity was associated with a 12% reduction in the likelihood of a mental health diagnosis by age 18. However, the study also highlighted significant sex differences in the impact of physical activity on mental health. For instance, boys who engaged in physical activity had a 30% lower risk of developing mental health issues, while no such effect was observed for girls, after accounting for factors like maternal education and life stressors.
In terms of specific mental health conditions, physical activity appeared to reduce the risk of depression by 18% in girls and 29% in boys by age 11. The benefits were especially noticeable in boys, with physical activity correlating with a 19% lower risk of depression at age 5 and a 23% lower risk at age 8. Similarly, boys who were more active showed a 21% reduction in anxiety at age 5 and a 39% reduction at age 11, while no significant reduction was seen in girls.
The study also revealed that physical activity at age 8 and 11 was linked to lower addiction risks in boys (34% at age 8 and 35% at age 11) but not in girls.
Participation in organised sports was a key factor, with those who participated in sports at age 11 showing a 23% lower risk of mental health disorders among boys and a 12% lower risk among girls. For depression, organised sports reduced the risk by 35% in boys, but only 11% in girls. The risk of anxiety was reduced by 21% in boys and 14% in girls, while the risk of addiction was lowered by 41% in girls and 30% in boys. Notably, organised sports did not influence risks related to eating or sleep disorders.
The researchers suggested that these differences may be linked to physiological and psychological factors, such as variations in sex hormones and differing cultural expectations of gender. While this study cannot definitively establish causality due to its observational nature and reliance on parental reporting, it reinforces the importance of early physical activity in mental health development, particularly in the period around puberty.
The study emphasizes that the ages between 10 and 12 may represent a critical window for promoting physical activity, especially through organised sports, as a means of building resilience and preventing future mental health issues. Given the rising global prevalence of psychiatric disorders among children and adolescents, the researchers advocate for increased efforts to encourage physical activity at these crucial developmental stages.
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