New findings show impact of exercise on children's mental health conditions

Introduction

I've attached a link to a report that has just been produced for Sport England by Edge Hill University after an independent evidence review that collated research from across 143 studies. The attached report shows there is strong and consistent evidence that sport and physical activity interventions had positive effects on the diagnosed mental health problems of children and young people.

The key findings based on the research are:

• There was strong and consistent evidence that sport and physical activity interventions had positive effects on the diagnosed mental health problems of children and young people.
• Aerobic exercise was the most common mode of physical activity intervention used, and this had a moderate effect on depression.
• Aerobic plus resistance exercise interventions were less common, but these had strong effects on symptoms of depression.
• Physical activity of moderate-to-high intensity was most effective in treating depression in adolescents.
• The effects of randomised controlled trials delivered in group settings were strong, particularly when compared to effects of programmes delivered on a one-to-one or individual basis.

 

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