Symptoms of Depression attenuated by physical activity in adolescents and children

China: A new study conducted by researchers from China and Atlanta found that physical activity interventions reduce depressive symptoms in children and adolescents, especially those older than 13. The study results were published in the journal JAMA Pediatrics.  

Depression is the second most prevalent mental disorder among children and adolescents. Severe adverse outcomes are seen in early childhood depression. Despite this, only a small proportion of the population seeks or receives disorder-specific treatment. Recent literature shows that physical activity interventions exhibited promising results as an alternative or adjunctive approach to clinical treatment for depression. Francesco Recchia et al from China and Atlanta conducted a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis to identify if physical activity interventions can alleviate depressive symptoms in children and adolescents. 

Databases like PubMed, CINAHL, PsycINFO, EMBASE, and SPORTDiscus were searched from inception to February 2022 for relevant studies written in English, Chinese, or Italian by two independent researchers following the PRISMA guidelines. Relevant studies were selected and compared with a control condition. Hedges g was used to perform the random-effects meta-analysis. Multiple reviewers independently assessed heterogeneity, risk of bias, and publication bias. Overall results were substantiated by conducting meta-regressions and sensitivity analyses. Depressive symptoms as measured by validated depression scales at postintervention and follow-up are the main outcomes of measurement. 

Key findings of the study: 

• Twenty-one studies involving 2441 participants were included. There were 1148 [47.0%] boys and 1293 [53.0%] girls with a mean [SD] age of 14 [3] years. 
• Physical activity interventions were associated with a reduction in depressive symptoms compared with the control condition as per the Meta-analysis of the postintervention differences. 
• There were no differences between the physical activity and control groups as per the analysis of the follow-up outcomes in 4 studies. 
• Moderate study heterogeneity was detected.
• The main treatment effect was not moderated by the primary moderator analysis, which took into account the study design, total physical activity volume, participant health status, and allocation and/or assessment concealment. 
• Intervention parameters like 3 times a week and participant characteristics like those with a mental illness and/or depression diagnosis influenced the overall treatment effect as per the secondary analyses. 

Thus, physical activity interventions produced greater reductions in depressive symptoms compared with the control conditions. Further studies are needed to understand the influence of physical activity intervention factors on depressive symptoms. 

Further reading: Recchia F, Bernal JDK, Fong DY, et al. Physical Activity Interventions to Alleviate Depressive Symptoms in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. JAMA Pediatr. Published online January 03, 2023. doi: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2022.5090