Mechanisms underpinning the association between physical activity and mental health in adolescence: a 6-year study
- PMID: 32005251
- PMCID: PMC6993479
- DOI: 10.1186/s12966-020-0911-5
Mechanisms underpinning the association between physical activity and mental health in adolescence: a 6-year study
Abstract
Background: Physical activity (PA) can promote mental health, but the mechanisms underpinning this association are not well-established. This study examined if perceptions of three basic psychological needs (autonomy, competence, relatedness) and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) mediate the association between number of years participating in PA and mental health in adolescence.
Methods: Participants included 937 children (55% female) age 10-11 at inception of the longitudinal MATCH study, who provided data every 4 months over 6 years. Mediation analyses were used to assess the natural direct effect of number of years of PA participation (cycles 1-15) during late childhood and adolescence on later mental health (cycle 16), measured with the Mental Health Continuum-Short Form (MHC-SF), and the natural indirect effect through each of self-perceived autonomy, competence and relatedness, and self-report MVPA (cycle 15).
Results: In single mediator models, indirect effects of autonomy, competence, relatedness and self-report MVPA were statistically significant. In joint mediation models (each of three models including one basic psychological need and MVPA), autonomy, competence and relatedness mediated 71, 27, and 51% of the association respectively; MVPA mediated 27-31% of the association. In the mediation model including all four mediators, relatedness mediated the largest proportion of the association, followed by autonomy and MVPA.
Conclusion: Results support developing strategies to encourage adolescents to engage and remain involved in PA. This could foster perceptions of autonomy, competence, and relatedness as well as MVPA, which in turn may enhance mental health.
Keywords: Autonomy; Basic psychological needs; Competence; Physical activity; Relatedness; Well-being.
Conflict of interest statement
The authors have indicated that they have no financial relationships relevant to this article to disclose.
The authors have indicated that they have no conflicts of interest to disclose.
Figures
Similar articles
-
Physical activity motives have a direct effect on mental health.Scand J Med Sci Sports. 2022 Aug;32(8):1258-1267. doi: 10.1111/sms.14174. Epub 2022 May 13. Scand J Med Sci Sports. 2022. PMID: 35478463
-
Parental control and support for physical activity predict adolescents' moderate to vigorous physical activity over five years.Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2021 Mar 22;18(1):43. doi: 10.1186/s12966-021-01107-w. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2021. PMID: 33752697 Free PMC article.
-
Autonomy, competence and relatedness and cannabis and alcohol use among youth in Canada: a cross-sectional analysis.Health Promot Chronic Dis Prev Can. 2020 Jun;40(5-6):201-210. doi: 10.24095/hpcdp.40.5/6.09. Health Promot Chronic Dis Prev Can. 2020. PMID: 32529980 Free PMC article.
-
Motivational climate, need satisfaction, self-determined motivation, and physical activity of students in secondary school physical education in China.BMC Public Health. 2020 Nov 10;20(1):1687. doi: 10.1186/s12889-020-09750-x. BMC Public Health. 2020. PMID: 33172411 Free PMC article.
-
Using the self-determination theory to understand Chinese adolescent leisure-time physical activity.Eur J Sport Sci. 2017 May;17(4):453-461. doi: 10.1080/17461391.2016.1276968. Epub 2017 Jan 19. Eur J Sport Sci. 2017. PMID: 28100122
Cited by
-
Physical Activity Participation among Children and Youth with Mental Health Symptoms: Clinician Perspectives.Children (Basel). 2024 Jul 20;11(7):880. doi: 10.3390/children11070880. Children (Basel). 2024. PMID: 39062329 Free PMC article.
-
Associations between Physical Activity, Mental Health, and Suicidal Behavior in Korean Adolescents: Based on Data from 18th Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-Based Survey (2022).Behav Sci (Basel). 2024 Feb 22;14(3):160. doi: 10.3390/bs14030160. Behav Sci (Basel). 2024. PMID: 38540463 Free PMC article.
-
Editorial: "Building" health through physical activity in schools.Front Sports Act Living. 2024 Jan 18;6:1359661. doi: 10.3389/fspor.2024.1359661. eCollection 2024. Front Sports Act Living. 2024. PMID: 38304419 Free PMC article. No abstract available.
-
Association of habitual physical activity with depression and anxiety: a multicentre cross-sectional study.BMJ Open. 2024 Jan 23;14(1):e076095. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-076095. BMJ Open. 2024. PMID: 38262655 Free PMC article.
-
The Influence of Race, Socioeconomic Status, and Physical Activity on the Mental Health Benefits of Sport Participation During COVID-19.Sports Health. 2024 Mar-Apr;16(2):195-203. doi: 10.1177/19417381231223494. Epub 2024 Jan 21. Sports Health. 2024. PMID: 38246900
References
-
- Fraser-Thomas JL, Côté J, Deakin J. Youth sport programs: an avenue to foster positive youth development. Physical Education & Sport Pedagogy. 2005;10(1):19–40. doi: 10.1080/1740898042000334890. - DOI
-
- Reinboth M, Duda JL, Ntoumanis N. Dimensions of coaching behavior, need satisfaction, and the psychological and physical welfare of young athletes. Motiv Emot. 2004;28(3):297–313. doi: 10.1023/B:MOEM.0000040156.81924.b8. - DOI
-
- Holt NL. Positive Youth Development Through Sport. New York: Routledge; 2016.
-
- McPhie ML, Rawana JS. Unravelling the relation between physical activity, self-esteem and depressive symptoms among early and late adolescents: a mediation analysis. Ment Health Phys Act. 2012;5(1):43–49. doi: 10.1016/j.mhpa.2012.03.003. - DOI
Publication types
MeSH terms
LinkOut - more resources
Full Text Sources
Medical
Research Materials