Exercise Boosts Mental Well-Being

It is generally accepted that adolescents who engage in more physical activity generally experience fewer mental health problems.  Karin Monshouwer, from the Netherlands Institute of Mental Health and Addiction (The Netherlands), and colleagues investigated the psychological mechanisms underlying this Association.  The researchers surveyed over 7000 Dutch students, ages 11 to 16 years, who were surveyed for physical activity, mental health issues, bodyweight perception, and participation in organized sports. The team found that adolescents who were physically inactive or who perceived their bodies as either perceived their bodies as either "too fat" or "too thin" were at greater risk for both internalizing problems (such as depression and anxiety) and externalizing problems (such as aggression and substance abuse). Adolescents who participated in organized sports were at lower risk for mental health problems.  The study authors write that: "This study found some support for the self-image and social interaction hypotheses and thereby confirms the importance of the psychological and sociological aspects of physical activity.”