Physical Activity Improves Mental Health in Children and Adolescents Irrespective of the Diagnosis of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)-A Multi-Wave Analysis Using Data from the KiGGS Study.

Parisa Ganjeh,Andreas Becker,Thomas Meyer,Ronny Kuhnert,Ulrike Ravens-Sieberer,Aribert Rothenberger,Nicole Von Steinbuechel,York Hagmayer

doi:10.3390/ijerph18052207

Abstract

Physical activity (PA) may have positive effects on mental health in children and adolescents. This post hoc study aimed to further investigate the relationship between different frequency levels of PA and general mental health as well as specific hyperactivity/inattention symptoms in children and adolescents. Methods: The analyses were based on data drawn from the German Health Interview and Examination Survey for Children and Adolescents (KiGGS) study, a regularly conducted large-scale, epidemiological investigation of somatic and mental health of children and adolescents in Germany. Parents were asked about their children’s attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) records and answered questionnaires concerning any mental health problem behavior of the children and adolescents using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). The overall problem score as well as the hyperactivity/inattention symptoms subscale (SDQ-H/I) were entered as outcomes in a regression model controlling for parental socio-economic status and participants’ sex, age, and body mass index (BMI). Cross-sectional analyses were conducted at three time points of the KiGGS study (baseline, wave 1, and wave 2) using general linear models (GLM). This was performed for different age groups (4–5, 6–9, 10–17 years). Results: Significant negative relationships were found between PA and general mental health problems. For the relationship between PA and SDQ-H/I, different patterns emerged at the three time points. There was no interaction between PA frequency levels and diagnosis of ADHD (ADHD vs. non-ADHD controls) regarding the SDQ total score. Conclusion: This study underlines the importance of a high frequency level of PA for a good mental health status among children and adolescents, irrespective of the diagnosis of ADHD.

Highlights

It is already known that, in general, physical activity (PA) is effective for the prevention and treatment of somatic diseases including heart diseases, cancers, diabetes mellitus, stroke, and overweight [1,2]
The results showed that the mean total Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) score at a low level of PA was higher than at a medium (Es = −0.26, t = −6.88, p = 0.001, Beta = 0.27) and a high level (Es = −0.20, t = −4.40, p = 0.001, Beta = 0.21)
Adolescents who were active at a medium level showed fewer attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms (Es = −0.23, t = −3.46, p = 0.001, Beta = 0.12) than those with a low activity, but there was no significant difference between a low and a high level of PA with respect to SDQ-H/I

Summary

Introduction

It is already known that, in general, physical activity (PA) is effective for the prevention and treatment of somatic diseases including heart diseases, cancers, diabetes mellitus, stroke, and overweight [1,2]. Several reports have shown that PA improves physical health and may have a positive impact on mental health problems, well-being, and quality of life [3,4,5,6,7,8,9]. More studies are needed in order to obtain a clearer picture before firm conclusions can be drawn, those addressing PA for prevention and treatment of developmental psychopathology, either in general or for a specific disorder. In non-adult populations, PA may lead to improvement of emotional mental health and social support, and may raise self-esteem [18,19,20,21,22]

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion