Time Magazine published an interesting article about the relationship between exercise and depression in children, and we thought it was worth sharing here. Depression has many causes and expressions, and we appreciate that the mental health community continues to research and report on its nuances for children and adults. If you live in the greater Cleveland area and think your child might be depressed, we hope you’ll reach out to us.
Physical activity improves young children’s mental health
Exercise isn’t a cure for depression, but being active has been shown to alleviate some symptoms of depressionin both teens and adults. Depending on the severity of the mood disorder, it could go a long way toward helping problems like negativity and rumination.
Scientists are now investigating if the same benefits might apply to young children, an age group with increasing cases of depression. In a new report published in Pediatrics, researchers at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology took advantage of data from nearly 800 six year olds who were asked about their exercise habits and depressive symptoms and followed up when they were eight and 10. Overall, children who exercised more, at a moderate to vigorous intensity, showed fewer depressive symptoms years later.