Physical activity, sedentary behaviour and depressive symptoms among adolescents

Leisure-time sedentary behavior and suicide attempt among 126,392 adolescents in 43 countries

BACKGROUND

Adolescent suicide is a major global mental health problem. Exploring variables associated with suicide attempts is important for the development of targeted interventions. The aim of the current study was to explore associations between leisure-time sedentary behavior and suicide attempts.

METHODS

Data from the Global School-based Student Health Survey were analyzed. Data on past 12-month suicide attempts and self-reported leisure-time sedentary time were collected. Multivariable logistic regression and meta-analysis were conducted to assess the associations.

RESULTS

Among 126,392 students from 43 countries (mean age 13.8 ± 0.96 years; 48.9% female), 10.6% had attempted suicide. The prevalence of suicide attempts increased with increasing sedentary leisure-time per day (from 9% at <1 h/day to 16.8% at >8 h/day). Compared to those engaging in <1 h/day sedentary during leisure-time, there was a dose-dependent increase in odds ratios (ORs) for suicide attempts, with the OR for >8 h/day being 1.45 (95% confidence interval=1.19-1.77).

LIMITATIONS

The study is cross-sectional, therefore the directionality of the relationships cannot be deduced.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data suggest that leisure-time sedentary behavior is associated with increased odds for suicide attempt in adolescence. Future longitudinal data are required to confirm/refute the findings to inform public prevention campaigns.

Sedentary behavior and depressive symptoms among 67,077 adolescents aged 12-15 years from 30 low- and middle-income countries

BACKGROUND

Depression is common and burdensome in adolescents. Understanding modifiable environmental risk factors is essential. There is evidence that physical activity is protective of depression. However, the impact of sedentary behavior (SB) on depression is relatively under-researched especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). In this cross-sectional study, we explored the association between SB and depressive symptoms in adolescents from 30 LMICs, controlling for confounders including physical activity.

METHOD

Data from the Global school-based Student Health Survey were analyzed in 67,077 adolescents [mean (SD) age 13.8 (0.9) years; 50.6% girls). Self-report measures assessed depressive symptoms during the past 12 months, and SB, which was a composite variable assessing time spent sitting and watching television, playing computer games, talking with friends during a typical day excluding the hours spent sitting at school and doing homework. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was conducted and a countrywide meta-analysis undertaken.

RESULTS

The prevalence of depressive symptoms and ≥ 3 h/day of SB were 28.7 and 30.6%, respectively. There was a linear increase in the prevalence of depressive symptoms with increasing sedentary time beyond ≥3 h/day (vs. < 1 h/day). Among boys, 1-2 h/day of SB was associated with lower odds for depression (vs. < 1 h/day). Countrywide meta-analysis demonstrated that spending ≥3 h/day versus < 3 h/day was associated with a 20% increased odds for depressive symptoms (OR = 1.20; 95% CI = 1.16-1.24) with low between-country heterogeneity (I2 = 27.6%).

CONCLUSION

Our data indicate that being sedentary for ≥3 h/day is associated with increased odds for depressive symptoms in adolescence. Future longitudinal data are required to confirm/refute the findings to inform public interventions which aim to limit the time spent being sedentary in adolescents.