Relationship between mental health and exercise in adolescents

Abstract

A number of studies have been conducted to examine the influence of physical activity on psychological well-being in young people; however, few studies have discussed the relationship between exercise and mental health. The purpose of this article was to investigate the influence of exercise on mental health in adolescents by performing a brief review. Although the studies included in this review are cross-sectional, relatively small scale and lack measurement consistency, the results show that participating in exercise and/or sports is likely to significantly improve mood. Organized sport activities contribute to the reduction of chronic stress response. On the other hand, higher levels of sedentary behavior are associated with worse mental health. These findings suggest that physical activity may enhance psychological well-being, and chronic vigorous exercise and sport activities are effective in promoting improvement of mental health in adolescents.