An Examination of the Relationships between Physical Activity and Mental Health among High School Youth in Tennessee

Abstract

Several research studies have examined the relationship between physical activity and mental health among adults in the United States. However, no published study has extensively explored the relationship between physical activity and mental health among adolescents in Tennessee. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the association between physical activity and mental health when considering age, sex, race, and BMI. Data from the 2019 Tennessee Youth Risk Behavioral Survey (YRBS) was analyzed to calculate descriptive statistics for physical activity, signs and symptoms of depression, screen time, and suicide ideation and quantify the relationship between Physical activity and mental health. The study found a significant positive relationship between physical activity and signs and symptoms of depression. However, contrary to previous literature, no significant associations were observed between physical activity and suicide ideation, screen time and suicide ideation, and screen time and signs and symptoms of depression.