Can exercise help battle depression in children?
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Loading... - Fatima Salhi
- 09 Feb 2023
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Childhood has forever been synonymous with positive attributes like innocence, fun, and vigour. In recent times, however, the scenario seems to have taken something of a darker turn. Children are being associated more and more with issues such as depression and other mental health problems. Emerging as an unsung hero in battling these issues, exercise has been known to work wonders in preventing mental health troubles in young people, becoming an invaluable supplement to any depression treatment plan.
To determine just how much of an impact physical activity can have on mental health, the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) took a sample size of 800 6-year-old children and put an activity tracker around their waist for seven days. At each stage of the study, parents and children had to complete a psychiatric report to assess their well-being and likelihood of depression. The study went on to show that children who had moderate-to-high levels of physical exercise between the ages of 6 to 8 years were less likely to have symptoms of depression a couple of years later.
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In a separate study conducted with behaviourally challenged children from kindergarten through grade 10, it was seen that disorders such as autism, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, anxiety, and depression could also be helped through exercise. Children who cycled 30-40 minutes twice a week reported improved levels of self-regulation and fewer disciplinary time-outs.
Endorphins, or "feel good" hormones released during exercise have been found to uplift children's moods, elevate energy levels, and improve sleep patterns. The hormone also encourages desirable cognitive qualities such as better thinking and learning, problem-solving, and a stronger attention span. Children experiencing anxiety are usually unable to break the cycle of their negative thoughts; physical exercise gives them something else to focus on, making it easy for them to take their minds off troubling thoughts and learn new skills. Read More…
