Physical Fitness During Childhood Linked to Better Mental Health Outcomes in Adolescence

A recent Finnish study has uncovered a significant connection between physical fitness from childhood through adolescence and improved mental health during adolescence. These results come as new research shows that 25 to 30 percent of young people globally experience mental health problems.

The research, published in Sports Medicine, was conducted by the Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences at the University of Jyväskylä and the Institute of Biomedicine at the University of Eastern Finland. Investigators tracked the physical fitness of 241 adolescents over an eight-year period, beginning in childhood. The study revealed that better cardiorespiratory fitness—and improvements in this area from childhood to adolescence—were associated with fewer stress and depressive symptoms in adolescence.

The study also found that motor fitness, another key area of physical development, was linked to better cognitive functioning and lower levels of stress and depressive symptoms. However, the relationship between motor fitness and depressive symptoms was weaker than the association between cardiorespiratory fitness and depressive symptoms. Notably, screen time in adolescence was found to partly explain the associations between physical fitness and mental health outcomes, highlighting the complex interplay of modern lifestyle factors.

According to the authors, these findings support the idea that promoting physical fitness early in life could be a proactive strategy for addressing mental health and cognitive challenges later on. "The concern about the declining physical fitness in children and adolescents is real," explained Eero Haapala, PhD, Senior Lecturer of Sports and Exercise Medicine at the University of Jyväskylä. “However, the focus has been on physical health.”

Dr. Haapala emphasized the broader implications of the research, noting that "our results should encourage policymakers as well as parents and guardians to see the significance of physical fitness more holistically, as poor physical fitness can increase mental health challenges and impair cognitive skills needed for learning."

He also stressed the importance of societal involvement in supporting physical fitness from a young age, saying, "The whole of society should support physical fitness development in children and adolescents by increasing physical activity participation at school, during leisure time, and in hobbies."

The study draws on data from the ongoing Physical Activity and Nutrition in Children (PANIC) study at the University of Eastern Finland, led by Professor Timo Lakka. PhD. The PANIC study has been tracking the physical fitness of 241 individuals for eight years, with mental health assessments conducted during adolescence.

The PANIC Study is a key part of the Metabolic Diseases Research Community at the University of Eastern Finland, which focuses on investigating major cardiometabolic diseases. This research community utilizes genetics, genomics, and lifestyle interventions to better understand disease mechanisms and improve early diagnosis, prevention, and treatment options for metabolic disorders.

For integrative practitioners, these findings highlight the critical role of physical fitness in overall well-being, not just in physical health but also in mental and cognitive health. Encouraging physical activity in children and adolescents could be a vital part of a holistic approach to preventing mental health issues and supporting long-term cognitive function.