Physical activity in European adolescents and associations with anxiety, depression and well-being.
In this cross-sectional study, physical activity, sport participation and associations with well-being, anxiety and depressive symptoms were examined in a large representative sample of European adolescents. A school-based survey was completed by 11,110 adolescents from ten European countries who took part in the SEYLE (Saving and Empowering Young Lives in Europe) study. The questionnaire included items assessing physical activity, sport participation and validated instruments assessing well-being (WHO-5), depressive symptoms (BDI-II) and anxiety (SAS). Multi-level mixed effects linear regression was used to examine associations between physical activity/sport participation and mental health measures. A minority of the sample (17.9 % of boys and 10.7 % of girls; p < 0.0005) reported sufficient activity based on WHO guidelines (60 min + daily). The mean number of days of at least 60 min of moderate-to-vigorous activity in the past 2 weeks was 7.5 ± 4.4 among boys and 5.9 days ± 4.3 among girls. Frequency of activity was positively correlated with well-being and negatively correlated with both anxiety and depressive symptoms, up to a threshold of moderate frequency of activity. In a multi-level mixed effects model more frequent physical activity and participation in sport were both found to independently contribute to greater well-being and lower levels of anxiety and depressive symptoms in both sexes. Increasing activity levels and sports participation among the least active young people should be a target of community and school-based interventions to promote well-being. There does not appear to be an additional benefit to mental health associated with meeting the WHO-recommended levels of activity.
National Suicide Research Foundation, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland. e.mcmahon@ucc.ie.
Elaine M
EM
McMahon
National Suicide Research Foundation, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
Paul
P
Corcoran
National Suicide Research Foundation, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
Grace
G
O'Regan
Health Service Executive, Cork, Ireland.
Helen
H
Keeley
Department of Psychiatry, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland.
Mary
M
Cannon
National Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention of Mental Ill-Health (NASP), Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.
Vladimir
V
Carli
Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, USA.|Department of Medicine and Health Science, University of Molise, Campobasso, Italy.
Camilla
C
Wasserman
National Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention of Mental Ill-Health (NASP), Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.
Gergö
G
Hadlaczky
Department of Medicine and Health Science, University of Molise, Campobasso, Italy.|National Institute for Health, Migration and Poverty, Rome, Italy.
Marco
M
Sarchiapone
Schneider Children's Medical Centre of Israel, Tel-Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
Alan
A
Apter
Vadaskert Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Hospital, Budapest, Hungary.|Institute of Psychology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary.
Judit
J
Balazs
Pedagogical Consultation Services, Budapest, Hungary.
Maria
M
Balint
Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental, University of Oviedo, Oviedo, Spain.
Julio
J
Bobes
Clinic of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Centre of Psychosocial Medicine, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.
Romuald
R
Brunner
Clinical Psychology Department, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
Doina
D
Cozman
Department Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Tirol Kliniken, Hospital Hall in Tyrol, Innsbruck, Austria.
Christian
C
Haring
Department of Medicine and Health Science, University of Molise, Campobasso, Italy.
Miriam
M
Iosue
Clinic of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Centre of Psychosocial Medicine, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.
Michael
M
Kaess
Department of Psychiatry and Clinical Psychology, University of Lorraine, Nancy, France.
Jean-Pierre
JP
Kahn
Clinical Psychology Department, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
Bogdan
B
Nemes
Slovene Centre for Suicide Research, Andrej Marusic Institute, University of Primorska, Koper, Slovenia.
Tina
T
Podlogar
Slovene Centre for Suicide Research, Andrej Marusic Institute, University of Primorska, Koper, Slovenia.
Vita
V
Poštuvan
Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental, University of Oviedo, Oviedo, Spain.
Pilar
P
Sáiz
Estonian-Swedish Mental Health and Suicidology Institute (ERSI), Tallinn, Estonia.|School of Governance, Law and Society, Tallinn University, Tallinn, Estonia.
Merike
M
Sisask
Department of Psychiatry and Clinical Psychology, University of Lorraine, Nancy, France.
Alexandra
A
Tubiana
Estonian-Swedish Mental Health and Suicidology Institute (ERSI), Tallinn, Estonia.
Peeter
P
Värnik
Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, USA.|Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, USA.
Christina W
CW
Hoven
National Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention of Mental Ill-Health (NASP), Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.
Danuta
D
Wasserman
D000293:Adolescent; D001007:Anxiety / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health / Q000639:trends; D012574:Schools / Q000639:trends; D013177:Sports / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
Adolescent; Anxiety; Depression; Exercise; Mental health