Physical activity and developmental psychopathology in children and adolescents: cross-sectional, longitudinal follow-up and concurrent developmental relationships

by Parisa Ganjeh
Cumulative thesis
Date of Examination:2023-07-07
Date of issue:2023-09-26
Advisor:Aribert Prof. Dr. Rothenberger
Referee:Aribert Prof. Dr. Rothenberger
Referee:York Prof. Dr. Hagmayer
Referee:Claudia PD. Dr. Bartels
Persistent Address: http://dx.doi.org/10.53846/goediss-10106

 

 

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Abstract

English

The current cumulative dissertation aimed to investigate the cross-sectional and longitudinal relationships between mental health problems, including symptoms of ADHD, and physical activity (PA) in children and adolescents. Using data from the German Health Interview and Examination Survey for Children and Adolescents (KiGGS) had the benefit of a large population sample (17640 participants) of children and adolescents from 0 to 17 years old investigated across a 10-year period. The dissertation aimed to shed additional light on the association between mental health problems and PA by addressing the following research questions: (a) whether there exists a cross-sectional relationship between general mental health problems as well as ADHD symptoms and PA in different age groups. If so, (b) whether there exists a longitudinal association between them over a 10-year period, and (c) how developmental trajectories of general mental health problems as well as ADHD symptoms, are related to those of PA. These questions led us to three separate studies. The first study used a multi-linear regression to explore the cross-sectional relationship between PA and mental health problems, including ADHD symptoms, while controlling for sex, SES, and BMI in three distinct age groups (preschool, elementary school and adolescents) at Baseline, Wave 1, and Wave 2, separately. The findings highlighted the significance of a high frequency level of PA in promoting mental health status in both children and adolescents. The second study revealed the longitudinal relationship between PA and general mental health problems, as well as symptoms of ADHD in children and adolescents, using different analyses for boys and girls. The findings showed that PA has long-term consequences on psychopathologies, particularly in preschool children. The third study examined children’s and adolescents' concurrent development of general mental health problems, ADHD, and PA over a ten-year period. The results showed (1) distinct 20 developmental trajectories for each component (for boys and girls separately) but, (2) a significant relationship between trajectories could not be found.
Keywords: Physical activity; Developmental psychopathology; ADHD symptoms; Children and adolescents
Schlagwörter: Physical activity; Developmental psychopathology; ADHD symptoms; Children and adolescents
 
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