title: Psychological distress leads to reduced physical activity and fitness in children: the Australian longitudinal LOOK study.
abstract: Stress and depression can affect an individual's level of physical activity and fitness, which may place them at risk of developing cardiovascular disease. This study investigates the longitudinal effects of stress and depression on physical activity and cardiorespiratory fitness among youth. Six hundred and seventy-six children, initially aged 8 years, from the LOOK study completed a modified version of the Children's Depression Inventory, the Children's Stress Questionnaire, and objective physical activity and cardiorespiratory fitness assessments on three occasions, every 4 years. Depressive symptoms had a direct effect (longitudinal) on the cardiorespiratory fitness of girls, with a similar trend for boys. In cross-sectional analyses, a child who identified with more symptoms of depression and stress was likely to be less fit and less physically active, which in girls extended to less moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. Our findings, that both physical activity and fitness are impacted by depression and stress may contribute to strategies directed towards achieving enhanced physical activity and reductions in obesity.
authors.affiliation: Research School of Psychology, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia. lisa.olive@anu.edu.au.
authors.forename: L S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Olive
authors.affiliation: Centre for Research and Action in Public Health, University of Canberra, Bruce, Australia.|Research Institute for Sport and Exercise, University of Canberra, Bruce, Australia.
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Telford
authors.affiliation: ANU Medical School, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia.
authors.forename: D G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Byrne
authors.affiliation: ANU Medical School, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia.|Clinical Trials Unit, Academic Unit of Internal Medicine, Canberra Hospital, Garran, Australian Capital Territory, Australia.
authors.forename: W P
authors.initials: WP
authors.lastname: Abhayaratna
authors.affiliation: Research Institute for Sport and Exercise, University of Canberra, Bruce, Australia.
authors.forename: R D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Telford
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001315:Australia; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000523:psychology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Adolescence; Cardiorespiratory fitness; Children; Depression; Physical activity; Stress