ENHANCED MENTAL WELL-BEING AND QUALITY OF LIFE AMONG HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS: OUTCOMES OF A PHYSICAL ACTIVITY INITIATIVE
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.32782/2522-1795.2025.19.1.15Keywords:
adolescent mental health, physical activity intervention, depression, anxiety, quality of life, exercise adherenceAbstract
Background and Purpose. The prevalence of mental health issues among adolescents has escalated markedly in recent years, thereby underscoring the imperative for effective and accessible interventions within educational environments. Although empirical evidence suggests that physical activity may yield beneficial outcomes in adult populations, its effectiveness as a formalized mental health intervention for high school students has yet to be thoroughly investigated. Materials and methods. A quantitative pre-test/post-test methodological framework was utilized involving a cohort of 73 high school students (38 females, 35 males; ages ranging from 14 to 18 years). The participants partook in supervised exercise sessions lasting 45 minutes, conducted three times per week, which integrated aerobic (60%) and resistance training (40%) elements. Mental health outcomes were evaluated through the application of standardized assessment tools: Beck Depression Inventory for Youth (BDI-Y), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children (STAIC), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), and KIDSCREEN-27 quality of life questionnaire. Data collection occurred at baseline, as well as at weeks 6 and 12. Findings. Substantial advancements were documented across the entirety of mental health indicators. Depression metrics exhibited a reduction of 28% (p < 0.001, d = 1.03), state anxiety levels diminished by 23.0% (p < 0.001, d = 1.24), and perceived stress was reduced by 19% (p < 0.01, d = 0.77). Quality of life assessments presented noteworthy enhancements, especially in emotional well-being (+38.0%, d = 1.72) and social relationships (+33.0%, d = 1.85). Compliance with the program was notably high (85.3%), with female participants demonstrating marginally greater attendance (88.2% vs 82.1%, p < 0.05). A robust association was identified between attendance rates and improvements in mental health (r = 0.67, p < 0.001). Conclusions. The structured physical activity program exhibited notable effectiveness as a mental health intervention for high school students, surpassing common effect sizes for similar programs. High adherence and consistent benefits across genders indicate strong potential for broad application. These results advocate for the incorporation of structured physical activity programs within comprehensive school-based mental health frameworks.
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