Kouzinou, S. (Sofia) (2020) On the relationship between physical fitness and mental health in adolescents. thesis, Human Movement Sciences.
Full text available on request.Abstract
Mental health problems, (e.g. depression symptoms, anxiety symptoms) are high in adolescents and the number of youths who received outpatient mental health services increased dramatically over the past years. Physical fitness might be a crucial protective factor in developing mental health problems, especially during childhood and adolescence since the onset of mental health problems lies mainly there. The aim of this study is to examine whether there is a relationship between adolescents’ physical fitness and their mental health. Mental health was explored in terms of trait and state anxiety and symptoms of depression. A total of 113 adolescents (43.3% boys and 56,7% girls) were part of this study, with a mean age of 13.4 years, by 24 classes (‘VMBO’, ‘HAVO’, ‘VWO’). Participants’ physical fitness (i.e. muscular strength, agility aerobic fitness) was measured using the Eurofit Physical Fitness Test Battery. Participants’ anxiety was measured using the Dutch version of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children (STAIC) and symptoms of depression were measured using the Dutch version of the Children's Depression Inventory (CDI). Regression analyses showed that the better scores on each aspect of physical fitness, except for abdominal strength, the lower scores on trait anxiety, as well as state anxiety. However, physical fitness did not predict symptoms of depression. Together, the results showed that muscular strength, agility and aerobic fitness are protective factors in developing anxiety for adolescents. Keywords: adolescents, mental health, physical fitness, Eurofit, STAIC, CDI
| Item Type: | Thesis (UNSPECIFIED) |
|---|---|
| Supervisor name: | Hartman, dr. E. and Haverkamp, dr. B. |
| Faculty: | Medical Sciences |
| Date Deposited: | 18 May 2022 10:29 |
| Last Modified: | 18 May 2022 10:29 |
| URI: | https://umcg.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/3363 |
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