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Article

Association between Active Commuting and Lifestyle Parameters with Mental Health Problems in Chilean Children and Adolescent

by
Felipe Caamaño-Navarrete
1,
Indya Del-Cuerpo
2,3,
Carlos Arriagada-Hernández
1,4,
Cristian Alvarez
5,
Anelise Reis Gaya
6,
Cézane Priscila Reuter
7 and
Pedro Delgado-Floody
8,*
1
Physical Education Career, Universidad Autónoma de Chile, Temuco 4780000, Chile
2
Department of Physical Education and Sports, Faculty of Sports Sciences, University of Granada, 18010 Granada, Spain
3
Strength & Conditioning Laboratory, CTS-642 Research Group, Department Physical Education and Sports, Faculty of Sports Sciences, University of Granada, 18010 Granada, Spain
4
Grupo de Investigación Colaborativa para el Desarrollo Escolar (GICDE), Temuco 4780000, Chile
5
Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences Institute, School of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Rehabilitation Sciences, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago 7591538, Chile
6
Graduate Program in Human Movement Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre 90690-200, Brazil
7
Graduate Program in Health Promotion, University of Santa Cruz do Sul, Independência Av.2293-Universitário, Santa Cruz do Sul 96815-900, Brazil
8
Department of Physical Education, Sport and Recreation, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco 4811230, Chile
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(7), 554; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14070554
Submission received: 30 April 2024 / Revised: 25 June 2024 / Accepted: 26 June 2024 / Published: 29 June 2024

Abstract

Background: Little is known about the association between active commuting (i.e., walking or cycling to school) with lifestyle parameters and mental health in youths. The objective of the present study was to investigate the association between mental health problems and symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress with lifestyle (i.e., food habits, screen time, physical activity, and sleep quality), active commuting, and gender. Methods: A total of 511 children and adolescents (boys, n = 249; girls, n = 262) aged 10 to 17 years participated in the study. Lifestyle parameters and mental health were evaluated using the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21). Results: Girls reported higher levels of anxiety (p = 0.001), depression (p = 0.001), and stress (p = 0.001). Mental health problems showed a positive association with gender (girls, β = 3.06, p < 0.001) and a negative association with food habits (β = −0.65, p = 0.019). Anxiety was positively associated with gender (β = 7.88, p < 0.001) and negatively associated with food habits (β = −0.23, p = 0.019). Gender (girls) and food habits were also associated with symptoms of depression (β = 2.29, p < 0.001 and β = −0.27, p = 0.005, respectively). Finally, active commuting was inversely associated with stress (β = −1.24, p = 0.008), and stress was positively linked to gender (β = 2.53, p < 0.001). Conclusions: Active commuting, lifestyle parameters, and gender were associated with mental health in children and adolescents. Moreover, girls reported higher levels of anxiety, symptoms of depression, and stress.
Keywords: physical activity; childhood; food habits; active transport physical activity; childhood; food habits; active transport

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Caamaño-Navarrete, F.; Del-Cuerpo, I.; Arriagada-Hernández, C.; Alvarez, C.; Gaya, A.R.; Reuter, C.P.; Delgado-Floody, P. Association between Active Commuting and Lifestyle Parameters with Mental Health Problems in Chilean Children and Adolescent. Behav. Sci. 2024, 14, 554. https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14070554

AMA Style

Caamaño-Navarrete F, Del-Cuerpo I, Arriagada-Hernández C, Alvarez C, Gaya AR, Reuter CP, Delgado-Floody P. Association between Active Commuting and Lifestyle Parameters with Mental Health Problems in Chilean Children and Adolescent. Behavioral Sciences. 2024; 14(7):554. https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14070554

Chicago/Turabian Style

Caamaño-Navarrete, Felipe, Indya Del-Cuerpo, Carlos Arriagada-Hernández, Cristian Alvarez, Anelise Reis Gaya, Cézane Priscila Reuter, and Pedro Delgado-Floody. 2024. "Association between Active Commuting and Lifestyle Parameters with Mental Health Problems in Chilean Children and Adolescent" Behavioral Sciences 14, no. 7: 554. https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14070554

APA Style

Caamaño-Navarrete, F., Del-Cuerpo, I., Arriagada-Hernández, C., Alvarez, C., Gaya, A. R., Reuter, C. P., & Delgado-Floody, P. (2024). Association between Active Commuting and Lifestyle Parameters with Mental Health Problems in Chilean Children and Adolescent. Behavioral Sciences, 14(7), 554. https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14070554

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