Prospective Associations between Physical Activity and Internalizing/Externalizing Problems in Preterm Youth Across 7 Years

Abstract

ObjectivesPhysical activity (PA) is associated with better mental health in youth. However, most studies involving preterm-born youth and studying the associations between PA and mental health used a cross-sectional design, which limits our understanding of the long-term, dynamic associations between PA and internalizing/externalizing problems in this population. To address this knowledge gap in the literature, this study aims to examine the prospective associations between different PA levels and internalizing/externalizing problems in preterm youth. MethodsIn this study, a total of 349 children and adolescents from the Millennium Cohort Study were followed at 7, 11, and 14 years. PA levels were measured using accelerometers at 7 years, and internalizing/externalizing problems were measured at 7 years, 11 years, and 14 years. To determine the associations between different PA levels and later internalizing/externalizing problems in preterm youth, linear regression models were performed after adjusting for confounding variables such as gender, ethnicity, and sedentary behavior. ResultsA significant association between moderate-to-vigorous-intensity PA (MVPA) at 7 years and lower internalizing problems at 11 years (for each additional 10 minutes: β = -0.235, 95% CI [-0.37, -0.1], p = 0.001) and at 14 years (for each additional 10 minutes: β = -0.229, 95% CI [-0.37, -0.09], p = 0.001) was observed. ConclusionsAmong preterm youth, MVPA is prospectively associated with lower internalizing problems, whereas no significant association was found between MVPA and externalizing problems. Thus, future research should investigate how early PA interventions can influence trajectories of internalizing problems in preterm youth.