Physical Activities: As the Promotion of Adolescents’ Physical and Mental Health

Dear Colleagues,

Physical activity levels during adolescence are related to current and future physical and mental health. Indeed, greater participation in physical activity during adolescence is associated with lower obesity, greater fitness, and better cardiometabolic health. Moreover, physical activity is associated with reductions in current mental health—reduced symptoms of depression, anxiety, and perceived stress in adolescents. However, the relationships between physical activity, physical health, and mental health are complex—they appear to differ by age, sex, the presence of co-occurring mental or physical health conditions, and socioemotional and other environmental characteristics (e.g., socioeconomic status). Additional studies are needed to provide insights regarding the individual and environmental factors that influence the relationship between physical activity, physical health, and mental health in adolescents with and without co-occurring conditions.

Despite the importance of physical activity, adolescents consistently fail to meet the recommended 60 minutes or more of daily moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. Therefore, evidence-based interventions aimed at increasing physical activity and thereby improving physical and/or mental health in this population are needed. Moreover, the barriers and facilitators to implementing these interventions in non-laboratory settings (e.g., home, schools, communities) are necessary to promote physical activity participation in adolescents at most significant risk (e.g., girls and those from low-SES backgrounds).

This Special Issue will showcase innovative and impactful research examining the relationships between adolescent physical activity, physical health, and mental health. We invite researchers to submit findings from cross-sectional and longitudinal studies examining the factors that influence these relationships in diverse samples. We also encourage researchers to submit findings from intervention studies examining the impact of physical activity programs on adolescent physical and mental health.

Dr. Melissa G. Pangelinan
Dr. Jill Kaar
Guest Editors

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