ABSTRACT
Physical activity, referring to body movement that leads to energy expenditure and is initiated by skeletal muscles, has extensively been associated with different aspects of mental health in adults. Mental health is usually defined as the absence of mental disorders, intact mental, physical, and social functioning, and includes concepts like psychological well-being, the absence of anxiety and depression as well as cognitive functioning. The current chapter reports evidence for the physical activity–mental health link in children and adolescents for these aspects of mental health. We included the existing meta-analytical findings and respective positions on the topic from review articles. As examples, high-quality studies for the different physical activity–mental health links are reported. The chapter concludes with neurobiological mechanisms that have been made responsible for the beneficial effects of exercise on mental health in this age. Overall, findings regarding the exercise–mental health links in the young age group are more diverse and the effects are less pronounced compared to adults, one reason being the small research base, especially for preadolescent children. Reported effects of chronic interventions are higher than in acute interventions, especially for depression-reducing effects. Anxiolytic effects and effects on well-being can hardly be found. Regarding children’s and adolescents’ cognitive functions, exercise may especially benefit the areas of working memory and inhibition. Future research is needed in this age group for all aspects of mental health. Studies that are highly controlled and investigate neurobiological mechanisms are especially needed.
