Correlations of Depression and Total Mood Disturbance with Physical Activity and Self-Concept in Preadolescents Enrolled in an After-School Exercise Program

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This preliminary investigation estimated relationships of depression and negative mood with physical activity and self-concept in 9- to 12-yr.-old boys and girls (n=49) enrolled in an after-school exercise program for 12 wk. Multiple regression analyses indicated that a significant portion of the variance in scores on the Profile of Mood States subscales, Depression (R2=.55, F=28.00, p<.01), and Total Mood Disturbance (R2=.40, F= 15.02, p<.01) were accounted for by simultaneously entering self-reported days of moderate-to-vigorous exercise per week and Self-description Questionnaire-I-General Self scores into the equation. A significant reduction on Depression within the treatment group and significantly greater reductions on Depression and Total Mood Disturbance for the treatment group compared to a no-exercise program control (n=41) was also found. Effect sizes (ds=.35 to .53) were somewhat lower than reported for most adult samples. Findings supported social cognitive and self-efficacy theory and an association between physical activity and improved mental health in preadolescents.