@article{ref1,
title="Physical activity in European adolescents and associations with anxiety, depression and well-being",
journal="European child and adolescent psychiatry",
year="2016",
author="McMahon, Elaine M. and Corcoran, Paul and O'Regan, Grace and Keeley, Helen and Cannon, Mary and Carli, Vladimir and Wasserman, Camilla and Hadlaczky, Gergo and Sarchiapone, Marco and Apter, Alan and Balazs, Judit and Balint, Maria and Bobes, Julio and Brunner, Romuald and Cozman, Doina and Haring, Christian and Iosue, Miriam and Kaess, Michael and Kahn, Jean-Pierre and Nemes, Bogdan and Podlogar, Tina and Postuvan, Vita and Saiz, Pilar and Sisask, Merike and Tubiana, Alexandra and Värnik, Peeter and Hoven, Christina W. and Wasserman, Danuta",
volume="26",
number="1",
pages="111-122",
abstract="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.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1018-8827",
doi="10.1007/s00787-016-0875-9",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00787-016-0875-9"
}