Ahn, Jane Vera;
(2021)
Physical activity, sedentary behaviour, and mental health in children: findings from the UK Millennium Cohort Study.
Doctoral thesis (Ph.D), UCL (University College London).
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Abstract
Background: Research has shown that physical activity (PA) may improve mental health. This thesis explores the association between PA and mental health in UK Millennium Cohort Study children. The role of environmental characteristics, type and intensity of PA, and direction of causality will be investigated. Methods: Accelerometer data were collected at age 7 and reported PA and sedentary behaviour data were collected at ages 5, 7, and 11. Mental health was measured using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Models were run separately by gender. Associations between minutes of sedentary, light PA, moderate-to-vigorous (MVPA) and SDQ were estimated using multiple linear regression, adjusting for multiple confounders (n=6,153). Between-individual and -ward variances were estimated using multilevel models. Environmental effects were explored using green space, deprivation, and urbanicity variables. Associations between reported PA and sedentary behaviours, and SDQ were estimated using three-wave, cross-lagged panel models. Results: In fully adjusted models, increased light PA and MVPA for boys, and light PA only for girls and less sedentary time, was associated with fewer peer problems. MVPA was positively associated with conduct problems in boys. Increased PA and less sedentary time were associated with more hyperactive symptoms. These effects were observed in both single- and multilevel models. No evidence of green space effects as confounder or moderator were observed in multilevel models. Intraclass correlation coefficients ranged from 4.5% (hyperactivity in girls) to 9.2% (peer problems in girls) in fully adjusted models. In cross-lagged models, sports participation improved emotional and peer problems, and total difficulties. Less television was associated with fewer peer and conduct problems, hyperactive symptoms, and total difficulties in boys. Active commuting and electronic gaming were not found to predict mental health outcomes. Conclusions: Whether PA improves mental health depends on the intensity and type of PA or sedentary behaviour, SDQ outcome, gender, and timing of exposure.
| Type: | Thesis (Doctoral) |
|---|---|
| Qualification: | Ph.D |
| Title: | Physical activity, sedentary behaviour, and mental health in children: findings from the UK Millennium Cohort Study |
| Event: | UCL (University College London) |
| Open access status: | An open access version is available from UCL Discovery |
| Language: | English |
| Additional information: | Copyright © The Author 2022. Original content in this thesis is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0) Licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/). Any third-party copyright material present remains the property of its respective owner(s) and is licensed under its existing terms. Access may initially be restricted at the author’s request. |
| UCL classification: | UCL UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Education UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Education > UCL Institute of Education UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Education > UCL Institute of Education > IOE - Psychology and Human Development |
| URI: | https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10141029 |
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