Physical activity and prevalence and incidence of mental disorders in adolescents and young adults
- 20 June 2007
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Cambridge University Press (CUP) in Psychological Medicine
- Vol. 37 (11), 1657-1666
- https://doi.org/10.1017/s003329170700089x
Abstract
BackgroundAlthough positive effects of physical activity on mental health indicators have been reported, the relationship between physical activity and the development of specific mental disorders is unclear.MethodA cross-sectional (12-month) and prospective-longitudinal epidemiological study over 4 years in a community cohort of 2548 individuals, aged 14–24 years at outset of the study. Physical activity and mental disorders were assessed by the DSM-IV Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) with an embedded physical activity module. Multiple logistic regression analyses controlling for age, gender and educational status were used to determine the cross-sectional and prospective associations of mental disorders and physical activity.ResultsCross-sectionally, regular physical activity was associated with a decreased prevalence of any and co-morbid mental disorder, due to lower rates of substance use disorders, anxiety disorders and dysthymia. Prospectively, subjects with regular physical activity had a substantially lower overall incidence of any and co-morbid mental disorder, and also a lower incidence of anxiety, somatoform and dysthymic disorder. By contrast, the incidence of bipolar disorder was increased among those with regular physical activity at baseline. In terms of the population attributable fraction (PAF), the potential for preventive effects of physical activity was considerably higher for men than for women.ConclusionsRegular physical activity is associated with a substantially reduced risk for some, but not all, mental disorders and also seems to reduce the degree of co-morbidity. Further examination of the evidently complex mechanisms and pathways underlying these associations might reveal promising new research targets and procedures for targeted prevention.This publication has 29 references indexed in Scilit:
- The Acute Antipanic Activity of Aerobic ExerciseAmerican Journal of Psychiatry, 2005
- Naturally Occurring Changes in Physical Activity Are Inversely Related to Depressive Symptoms During Early AdolescencePsychosomatic Medicine, 2004
- Psychobiological Mechanisms of Resilience and Vulnerability: Implications for Successful Adaptation to Extreme StressAmerican Journal of Psychiatry, 2004
- Stress Responsive Neurohormones in Depression and AnxietyPharmacopsychiatry, 2003
- Changes in Intensity of Physical Exercise as Predictors of Depressive Symptoms among Older Adults: An Eight-Year Follow-UpPreventive Medicine, 2000
- Physical activity and public health. A recommendation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American College of Sports MedicineJAMA, 1995
- Pathways linking affective disturbances and physical disorders.Health Psychology, 1995
- Reliability and validity studies of the WHO-Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI): A critical reviewJournal of Psychiatric Research, 1994
- The effects of physical activity as maintenance for smoking cessationAddictive Behaviors, 1987
- ‘The Running Treatment’: A Preliminary Communication on a New use for an Old Therapy (Physical Activity) in the Agoraphobic SyndromeThe British Journal of Psychiatry, 1973