Physical activity, leisure-time screen use and depression among children and young adolescents

Abstract Objectives Adolescent mental disorders remain a relatively neglected area of research, despite evidence that these conditions affect youth disproportionately. We examined associations between physical activity, leisure-time screen use and depressive symptoms among Australian children and ad...

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Published in:	Journal of science and medicine in sport Vol. 17; no. 2; pp. 183 - 187
Main Authors:	Kremer, Peter, Elshaug, Christine, Leslie, Eva, Toumbourou, John W, Patton, George C, Williams, Joanne
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	Australia Elsevier Ltd 01-03-2014 Elsevier Limited
Subjects:	Adolescent Adolescent Behavior - psychology Adolescents Australia - epidemiology Child Children Children & youth Computers - utilization Cross-Sectional Studies Depression Depression - epidemiology Exercise Female Health Surveys Humans Leisure Male Mental depression Motor Activity Older people Physical education Physical fitness Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Sex Factors Sports - psychology Sports Medicine Studies Surveys and Questionnaires Teenagers Television Television - utilization Time Factors Video Games - statistics & numerical data Australia Western Australia Australia Depression Physical fitness Exercise Children Television Adolescents
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Summary:	Abstract Objectives Adolescent mental disorders remain a relatively neglected area of research, despite evidence that these conditions affect youth disproportionately. We examined associations between physical activity, leisure-time screen use and depressive symptoms among Australian children and adolescents. Design Large cross-sectional observational study. Methods Self-reported physical activity and leisure-time screen behaviours, and depressive symptoms using the Short Mood and Feeling Questionnaire were assessed in 8256 students aged 10–16 years (mean age = 11.5 years, SD = 0.8). Results Thirty three percent of the sample reported moderate to high depressive symptoms, with rates higher among females (OR = 1.18; 95% CI: 1.02, 1.36; p = 0.001). Increased opportunities to be active at school outside class (OR = 0.70; 0.58, 0.85; p < 0.001), being active in physical education classes (OR = 0.77; 0.69, 0.86; p < 0.001), greater involvement in sports teams at school (OR = 0.77; 0.67, 0.88; p < 0.001) and outside of school (OR = 0.84; 0.73, 0.96; p = 0.01) were all independently associated with lower odds for depressive symptoms. Meeting recommended guidelines for physical activity (OR = 0.62; 0.44, 0.88; p = 0.007) and, for 12–14 year olds, leisure-time screen use (OR = 0.77; 0.59, 0.99; p = 0.04) were also independently associated with lower odds for depressive symptoms. Conclusions Higher levels of physical activity among children and young adolescents, and lower levels of leisure-time screen use among young adolescents, are associated with lower depressive symptoms. Longitudinal studies are needed to understand the causal relationships between these variables.
Bibliography:	ObjectType-Article-2 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Undefined-1 ObjectType-Feature-3 content type line 23 ObjectType-Feature-1 ObjectType-Article-1 ObjectType-Feature-2
ISSN:	1440-2440 1878-1861
DOI:	10.1016/j.jsams.2013.03.012