Participation in team sports is associated with less depression in children. This is suggested by the results of the study that relates 'participation in sports, brain development and symptoms of depression in children'.
The research, published in the journal 'Biological Psychiatry: Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging', only found a positive association between exercise and boys (not girls). In addition, the findings have shown that Exercise could have antidepressant effects in adolescents.
In Babies and more, our teenagers also suffer from depression and anxiety, and it is important to identify it in time to actCameron Carter, editor of the magazine where the research was published explains:
"These interesting results provide important clues about how exercise benefits the mood of boys and girls, and reveals the important role that gender plays in these results."
Antidepressant association only in girls, not boys
The positive impact of exercise on depression and the relationship with the volume of the hippocampus has already been demonstrated previously in adults. But now, researchers wanted to know if exercise also positively influenced the mental health of children, a pioneering study.
In Babies and more Sport helps prevent bullying among minors: another benefit on the list of positive things it brings to childrenSo after studying the brain images of 4,000 children, between nine and eleven years of age, they showed that participation in sports causes an increase in the volume of an important brain region for memory and stress response, both in girls and In children: the hippocampus.
However, hippocampal volume was associated with depressive symptoms only in boys (not girls), suggesting that Changes in the hippocampus can play a role in the relationship between sports and depressive symptoms.
The study authors, Lisa Gorham and Deanna Barch, of the University of Washington in St. Louis (United States) point out:
"We found that these relationships were specific to participation in sports, and not to participation in other activities, such as clubs, arts and music."
But they also recognize that these activities can have their own benefits. "Although they were not contemplated in this study." And they add that the relationship was stronger "When children participate in team sports or sports that involve 'structure', like a school."
Social interaction
The benefits are seen in children who belong to a soccer team that participates in a non-school league or in regular training. According to the researchers, "This raises the possibility that there is some added benefit of a structured team, due to social interaction or the regularity of these activities."
In Babies and more, Mikel is nine years old and wants to play football, but his team does not leave him because he is autisticThe study does not clarify whether participation in sports has effects on brain development and depression, or if children with these characteristics are less likely to participate in sports. However, study formants point out that "Any of these causal relationships is important and suggests a new direction of work to improve or prevent depression in children."
This study proposes to focus on How exercise can affect brain development in adolescence and suggest a way to reduce or prevent depression.
Undoubtedly, confirmation of the impact of sports on brain development and mood, is one more compelling reason to encourage children to practice team sports, which not only promote exercise, but also interaction Social. And we and our children, people that we are, need the relationship with others to be happier.
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