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Exercise and Mental Health in our Youth

Updated: Nov 11, 2023

Youth mental health disorders have increased dramatically over the past few years. For many, access to interventions is limited due to stigmatism and reluctancy to reach out. However, there is something that parents, schools, and communities can do to boost the mental well-being in our children. Promoting exercise through a broad range of activities such as strength training, en

Exercise Mental Health

hanced physical education classes, aerobic exercises, yoga, and t’ai chi have demonstrated to have beneficial effects on mental health problems. Multiple studies have shown that exercise interventions may reduce depression and anxiety in adolescents, improving self-esteem and overall mood (Pascoe et al, 2020). This is something to consider when examining preventive interventions to help young people develop healthy coping mechanisms against the development of anxiety or depression. Teaching these healthy coping strategies in youth will hopefully carry over into adulthood, reducing their risks for mental health disorders and other co-morbidities such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes. At the end of the day, exercise is an important tool for not just improving our physical health, but also for our mental health.


Pascoe, M., Bailey, A. P., Craike, M., Carter, T., Patten, R., Stepto, N., & Parker, A. (2020). Physical activity and exercise in youth mental health promotion: A scoping review. BMJ open sport & exercise medicine, 6(1), e000677.












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