Physical Activity Protects Bullied Youth Against Adverse Mental Health Outcomes

Exercise was associated with lower likelihood of sadness, suicidal ideation, and suicide attempts in bullied adolescents.

Chronic bullying is associated with adverse effects on social behavior, educational achievement, and risk for depression. Protective factors have not been studied extensively.

In a 2013 nationally representative survey, 13,633 students from 148 U.S. public and private high schools (grades 9–12) answered questions about suicidal ideation and suicide attempts during the past year, physical activity during the past 7 days (lasting at least 60 minutes and causing increased heart rate and some hard breathing), feeling sad for ≥2 weeks during the past year, and being bullied during the past year, either in person (defined as when 1 or more students tease, threaten, spread rumors about, hit, shove, or hurt another student repeatedly) or electronica…

Reviewing Author

Martin T. Stein, MD

Disclosures

Consultant / Advisory boardPearson Neuroscience Advisory Board

Speaker’s bureauAmerican Academy of Pediatrics

RoyaltiesElsevier, Inc.

Editorial boardsJournal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics