Family fun: The protective role of family physical activity for adolescent mental health

• In Event: Risk and Resiliency in Child and Adolescent Mental Health During COVID-19

Abstract

Introduction. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has had a significant impact on the mental health of Canadian adolescents, with over 50% of youth reporting clinical levels of depression (Craig et al., 2020). One widely accepted protective factor for adolescent mental health is physical activity (PA). Yet, increased stress related to COVID-19 may hinder an adolescent’s use of PA as an effective coping mechanism. Further, with closures of schools, team sports, recreational centres, and gyms, adolescents are engaging in extremely low levels of PA, and preliminary data shows associated reductions in emotional wellbeing (Ellis et al., 2020). Physical isolation has resulted in increased family time and parental support has been shown to be positively associated with physical activity (Aubert et al., 2018). However, we know little regarding the possible protective role of parents in promoting PA during COVID-19 and how exercising with family may alleviate stress and mental health concerns. The purpose of this presentation is to model how 1) COVID-19-related stress is associated with family PA among youth; 2) family PA is related to mental health (i.e., depression); and, 3) family PA may be protective in the association between stress and depression.
Hypotheses. It is expected that 1) youth experiencing more COVID-19-related stress will engage in lower levels of family PA; and 2) higher levels of family PA will be related to better mental health; and, 3) family PA will mediate the association between stress and mental health.
Study population. Canadian youth (n = 809; 56% female-identified; Mage = 15.67, SD = 1.37) were recruited to complete an online survey (June 17-July 31, 2020).
Method. Adolescents were recruited via social media. Informed consent was obtained by youth and all authors’ institutional ethics boards approved the study protocol. Assessments of COVID-related stress (Statistics Canada, 2020), psychopathology (OCHS; Duncan et al, 2019) and how often youth engaged in exercise with their parent(s) (i.e., family PA) were collected.
Results. Results from a mediational path model in Mplus (version 8.2) show COVID-related stress and family PA are directly associated with depression (see Figure 1). Family PA did not mediate the association between COVID-related stress and depression ( = -.02, SE = .01, p = .165).
Conclusion. Results reiterate the important role of parents in promoting PA and positive coping mechanisms (Aubert et al., 2018; Rhodes et al., 2020). Interventions focused on supporting parents and increasing self-efficacy in promoting PA may prove beneficial for youth mental health (Rhodes et al., 2020). Limitations of the study include the cross-sectional nature, generalizability due to recruitment measures, and single item measure of family PA.

Authors

• Megan E Ames, University of Victoria
  Presenting Author

• Bianca C. Bondi, York University
  Non-Presenting Author

• Debra Pepler, York University
  Non-Presenting Author

• Stephanie G. Craig, York University
  Non-Presenting Author