Functional training program: the impact on depression, anxiety and sleep quality in adolescents

Abstract

Depression, anxiety and lack of sleep are one of the most common causes of illness among adolescents. Possible reasons for this increase include use of social networks and exposure to artificial light from electronic devices. Little is known whether functional training can be an alternative intervention to improve these parameters in adolescents. The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of 6-week exercise intervention on the level of maximum oxygen consumption, depression, anxiety and sleep quality among boy and girl school adolescents. Thirty-four participants were analyzed, 23 boys and 11 girls, between 15 and 17 years old. The adolescents underwent 2 weekly sessions of moderate functional training for a total of 6 weeks. Depression, anxiety levels and sleep quality were measured before and after exercise intervention. Girls exhibited higher levels of anxiety and depression than boys at baseline. Poor sleep quality was observed mostly in the adolescent boys (60.9%), when compared to the adolescent girls (36.3%). Strikingly, depression levels were positively correlated with sleep quality in both sexes. A negative correlation was found between VO2 max, anxiety and sleep quality only in the girls. Six weeks of functional training increased VO2 max levels and sleep quality only in the boys (p < 0.02). These results suggest that 6 weeks of exercise intervention twice a week was enough to improve maximum rate of oxygen consumption and daytime sleep dysfunction in school adolescents.