{"id":222671,"date":"2025-06-29T00:45:09","date_gmt":"2025-06-29T00:45:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/222671\/"},"modified":"2025-06-29T00:45:09","modified_gmt":"2025-06-29T00:45:09","slug":"exercise-proven-to-boost-kids-mental-health","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/222671\/","title":{"rendered":"Exercise Proven to Boost Kids\u2019 Mental Health"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>Summary: <\/strong>A massive analysis of over 375 trials shows that structured exercise significantly reduces depression and anxiety in children and teens. Low-intensity resistance activities like light weights were most effective for easing anxiety, while moderate mixed-mode programs worked best for depression, especially when lasting under 12 weeks.<\/p>\n<p>The strongest benefits were seen in youth with depression or ADHD, and results emerged quickly, especially for those aged 12 and older. The findings support exercise as a powerful, low-cost intervention that could complement or even replace traditional treatments for youth mental health challenges.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Key Facts:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Targeted Exercise Helps:<\/strong> Light resistance reduces anxiety, mixed aerobic-strength circuits reduce depression.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Fast Results:<\/strong> Most benefits occurred in programs under 12 weeks, particularly for ages 12+.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Low-Cost Impact:<\/strong> Exercise offers an accessible, drug-free mental health intervention for youth.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong>University of South Australia<\/p>\n<p><strong>With more than\u00a0three-quarters of children and teens experiencing depression or anxiety, parents are desperate for effective solutions. <\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Now,\u00a0new research\u00a0from the\u00a0University of South Australia\u00a0shows that something as simple as regular exercise could be a powerful intervention to support young people\u2019s mental health.<\/p>\n<p>  <img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"799\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/exercise-kid-mental-health-neurosciecnce.jpg\" alt=\"This shows kids running.\"  \/> Children with depression and ADHD also showed the greatest improvements from exercise. Credit: Neuroscience News<\/p>\n<p>In the largest meta-meta-analysis of 375 clinical trials involving more than 38,000 young people, UniSA researchers found that when children took part in structured exercise programs, their symptoms of depression and anxiety improved. Specifically, the study found that:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Anxiety<\/strong>\u00a0improved most through low-intensity, resistance exercises, such as light weights or gentle circuit activities.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Depression\u00a0<\/strong>improved most through moderate-intensity, mixed-mode and resistance training, including circuits that combine aerobic and strength programs, particularly in programs lasting less than three months.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The biggest improvements in depression symptoms occurred in programs lasting fewer than 12 weeks, suggesting that benefits can emerge relatively quickly \u2013 especially for children aged 12 and over.<\/p>\n<p>No significant differences were seen among the frequency of exercise sessions per week.<\/p>\n<p>Children with depression and ADHD also showed the greatest improvements from exercise.<\/p>\n<p>Lead researcher, UniSA\u2019s Dr Ben Singh says the findings present parents with a non-invasive, low-cost solution to combat poor mental health in kids.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDepression and anxiety are among the most prevalent mental health issues affecting children and<\/p>\n<p>teenagers worldwide,\u201d Dr Ben Singh says.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cEvidence-based treatment guidelines often recommend cognitive behaviour therapy and antidepressants as first-line interventions, yet 40-60% of children don\u2019t receive treatment or fail to gain sufficient benefits, so we clearly need alternatives.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cExercise is a low-cost, widely accessible strategy that could make a real difference to children\u2019s mental health. And while people know that exercise is generally good for your health and wellbeing, there is little evidence that shows how exercise works for kids nor the types of exercise that might work better than others.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOur study draws together global evidence to show that gentle, light-intensity exercise is highly effective in reducing anxiety in children and teens, while medium-intensity programs that combine resistance and aerobic training \u2013 like circuits with weights \u2013 can counteract depression.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cImportantly, it demonstrates how exercise is an effective, accessible, lifestyle intervention that can immediately improve mental health issues in children, without first defaulting to medicines.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Senior researcher, UniSA\u2019s Prof Carol Maher says the findings reiterate the importance of exercise for mental health.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cExercise should be a core part of mental health care for children and teens, whether at school, in the community, or clinical settings,\u201d Prof Maher says.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cShort, structured programs that include strength training or a mix of activities seem especially promising, but simply exercising, even for short amounts of time will deliver benefits.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnd for parents, rest assured \u2013 you certainly don\u2019t need to fork out money for a gym membership or training program; play-based activities, games, and sport are all valuable forms of movement that can support mental wellbeing.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe key message is simple: get active and keep active. Even short bursts of movement can make a real difference to a child\u2019s mental health and wellbeing \u2013 especially for those who are struggling\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>About this exercise and mental health research news<\/p>\n<p class=\"has-background\" style=\"background-color:#ffffe8\"><strong>Author: <\/strong><a href=\"http:\/\/neurosciencenews.com\/cdn-cgi\/l\/email-protection#9fdef1f1fefdfaf3b1d2fef1ecf9f6faf3fbdfeaf1f6ecfeb1fafbeab1feea\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Annabel Mansfield<\/a><br \/><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/unisa.edu.au\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">University of South Australia<\/a><br \/><strong>Contact: <\/strong>Annabel Mansfield \u2013 University of South Australia<br \/><strong>Image: <\/strong>The image is credited to Neuroscience News<\/p>\n<p class=\"has-background\" style=\"background-color:#ffffe8\"><strong>Original Research: <\/strong>Open access.<br \/>\u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/dx.doi.org\/10.1016\/j.jaac.2025.04.007\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Systematic Umbrella Review and Meta-Meta-Analysis: Effectiveness of Physical Activity in Improving Depression and Anxiety in Children and Adolescents<\/a>\u201d by Ben Singh et al. JAACAP Connect<\/p>\n<p><strong>Abstract<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Systematic Umbrella Review and Meta-Meta-Analysis: Effectiveness of Physical Activity in Improving Depression and Anxiety in Children and Adolescents<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Objective<\/p>\n<p>Depression and anxiety are prevalent and rising in children and adolescents, prompting interest in exercise as a potential therapeutic intervention. The aim of this systematic umbrella review and meta-meta-analysis (a meta-analysis of meta-analyses) was to evaluate the effects of exercise on depression and anxiety symptoms in children and adolescents and to identify the most promising exercise-based approaches.<\/p>\n<p>Method<\/p>\n<p>This systematic umbrella review was preregistered (PROSPERO ID: CRD42024533558) and followed Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) and Preferred Reporting Items for Overviews of Reviews (PRIOR) guidelines. A search of 11 databases identified systematic reviews and meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating the effects of exercise (aerobic, resistance, mind\u2013body exercise) on depression and anxiety symptoms in children and adolescents.<\/p>\n<p>Risk of bias was assessed using the A MeaSurement Tool to Assess systematic Reviews (AMSTAR-2) tool, and certainty of evidence was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) tool. Meta-analyses were conducted to combine effect sizes, using random effects models. Subgroup analyses were performed to examine participant and intervention characteristics.<\/p>\n<p>Results<\/p>\n<p>A total of 21 systematic reviews (n = 375 RCTs, n = 38,117 participants 5-18 years of age) were included. Participants included those with various clinical conditions, including depression, psychosocial disorders, obesity, and cancer, as well as healthy individuals. The pooled analysis found moderate effect sizes favoring exercise for symptoms of depression (standardized mean difference [SMD] = \u22120.45, 95% CI = \u22120.59 to \u22120.31,\u00a0I2\u00a0= 71.37%,\u00a0p\u00a0I2\u00a0= 68.1%,\u00a0p\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Mixed exercise modes and moderate-intensity exercise had the largest effects on depression, whereas resistance exercise was most effective for symptoms of anxiety. Interventions that were <\/p>\n<p>Conclusion<\/p>\n<p>This meta-meta-analysis finds that exercise reduces depression and anxiety symptoms in children and adolescents. These results suggest that structured exercise programs should be considered as part of comprehensive care approaches.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Summary: A massive analysis of over 375 trials shows that structured exercise significantly reduces depression and anxiety in&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":222672,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4322],"tags":[2665,648,215,1301,649,1154,1630,105,218,219,654,220,222,16,15,31908],"class_list":{"0":"post-222671","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-fitness","8":"tag-anxiety","9":"tag-brain-development","10":"tag-brain-research","11":"tag-depression","12":"tag-developmental-neuroscience","13":"tag-exercise","14":"tag-fitness","15":"tag-health","16":"tag-mental-health","17":"tag-neurobiology","18":"tag-neurodevelopment","19":"tag-neuroscience","20":"tag-psychology","21":"tag-uk","22":"tag-united-kingdom","23":"tag-university-of-south-australia"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/114763892482561031","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/222671","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=222671"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/222671\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/222672"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=222671"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=222671"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=222671"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}