title: Brief report: Associations of physical activity with anxiety and depression symptoms and status among adolescents.
abstract: The purpose of this study is to investigate associations between physical activity (PA), depression, and anxiety among adolescents in Ireland. Adolescents (N = 481; 281 male, 200 female) aged 15.1 ± 1.7y self-reported PA level, depression, and anxiety. Approximately 21% of adolescents were high trait anxious, and ∼37% reported scores indicating probable depression. Anxiety and depressive symptoms were higher for low PA (60 min/d, 0-2 d/wk) compared to moderate (60 min/d, 3-4 d/wk) and high (60 min/d, 5-7 d/wk) PA. After adjustment for relevant covariates, reduced odds of depression were 30% and 56% for moderate and high PA, respectively; reduced odds of high trait anxiety were 46% and 47% for moderate and high PA, respectively. These findings support the need for adolescents to engage in moderate PA, with potential for increased benefits with increased PA. To conclude, moderate and high PA are inversely associated with anxiety and depressive symptoms, and risk of depression and high trait anxiety in adolescents.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland.
authors.forename: Cillian P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: McDowell
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland.
authors.forename: Ciaran
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: MacDonncha
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland; Health Research Institute, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland. Electronic address: matthew.herring@ul.ie.
authors.forename: Matthew P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Herring
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology*; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007494:Ireland; D008297:Male; D012306:Risk; D057566:Self Report
keywords: Adolescents; Cross-sectional; Depressive symptoms; Ireland; Physical activity; Trait anxiety