@article{ref1,
title="The association between meeting physical activity guidelines and mental health among high-school students in the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic",
journal="Journal of Adolescent Health",
year="2024",
author="Bucko, Agnes G. and Dowda, Marsha and Inak, Nabila and Wilson, Dawn K. and Pate, Russell R.",
volume="ePub",
number="ePub",
pages="ePub-ePub",
abstract="PURPOSE: Physical activity (PA) is associated with mental health outcomes in high-school students, yet many students do not meet the recommended PA levels. Furthermore, both PA levels and mental health were severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of this study was to assess whether the number of PA recommendations students met during the COVID-19 pandemic was associated with their self-reported mental health (including their experiences with stress, anxiety, and depression) during the COVID-19 pandemic. <br><br>METHODS: Students completed the Adolescent Behaviors and Experiences Survey, where they reported PA behaviors, mental health, and COVID-19-related experiences (as control variables) during the pandemic. <br><br>RESULTS: Each PA recommendation that was met was associated with a 17% decrease in the odds of students self-reporting that they experienced stress, anxiety, or depression most of the time or always during the COVID-19 pandemic. <br><br>DISCUSSION: Students should be provided with opportunities to participate in PA to obtain the physical and mental health benefits, especially in the event of a crisis like the pandemic.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1054-139X",
doi="10.1016/j.jadohealth.2024.04.026",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2024.04.026"
}