Association Between Depressed Mood Changes and Physical Activity Among Adolescents Post COVID-19 Pandemic

• Published in: Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Vol. 34; no. 4; pp. 242 - 250
• Main Authors: Jang, Jina, Kim, Bong-Jo, Lee, Cheol-Soon, Cha, Boseok, Lee, So-Jin, Lee, Dongyun, Lee, Young-Ji, Lim, Eunji, Kang, Nuree, Choi, Jae-Won
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Korea (South) 대한소아청소년정신의학회 01.10.2023; Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry; 대한소아청소년 정신의학회
• Subjects: COVID-19; Exercise; Original; Secondary schools; Students; 정신과학; COVID-19; Depression; Physical activity; Adolescents
• ISSN: 1225-729X; 2233-9183; 2233-9183
• DOI: 10.5765/jkacap.230043

Following the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, adolescents have experienced decreased physical activity and a decline in mental health. This study analyzed the association between changes in depressed mood after the COVID-19 pandemic and physical activity among adolescents. The analysis was based on the results of the 17th Youth Health Behavior Online Survey conducted in 2021, which included 54848 middle and high school students in South Korea. Information on physical activity included low-intensity physical activity lasting >60 min/day, high-intensity physical activity, and strength training exercises. A logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate the association between physical activity and changes in depression after the COVID-19 pandemic. After adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics and previous depression, adolescents who performed strength training exercises more than once per week had a 0.95-fold lower risk (odds ratio [OR]=0.948, 95% confidence interval [CI]=0.905-0.994, p= 0.027) of increasing depression after the COVID-19 pandemic, while the risk of decreasing depression increased by 1.22-fold (OR=1.215, 95% CI=1.131-1.305, p<0.001). The results were not significant for low-intensity physical activity for >60 min/day and high-intensity physical activity. Strength-training exercises are significantly associated with the prevention of depression among adolescents following the COVID-19 pandemic.