BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine (Sep 2024)

Are perceived barriers to physical activity related to depression, anxiety and stress among adolescents? The EHDLA study

  • Nerea Martín-Calvo,
  • Estela Jimenez-Lopez,
  • Bruno Bizzozero-Peroni,
  • Arthur Eumann Mesas,
  • José Francisco López-Gil,
  • Sitong Chen,
  • Rubén López-Bueno,
  • Edina Maria de Camargo

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjsem-2024-002069
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 10, no. 3

Abstract

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Objective The aim of this study was twofold: first, to examine the association between perceived barriers to physical activity (PA) practice and depression, anxiety and stress in a sample of Spanish adolescents; and second, to determine which barriers are specifically associated with depression, anxiety and stress.Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted with 765 adolescents aged 12–17 (55.6% girls) in the Valle of Ricote, Murcia, Spain. Depression, anxiety and stress symptoms were assessed using the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21), with validated cut points employed to determine the presence of each of these mental conditions. The perception of barriers to PA was assessed using a validated questionnaire for the Spanish adolescent population.Results The barrier ‘Because I feel that my physical appearance is worse than that of others’ was related to a higher likelihood of having depression (OR=2.41; 95% CI 1.35 to 4.28; p=0.003), anxiety (OR=2.65; 95% CI 1.51 to 4.71; p=0.001) and stress (OR=2.82; 95% CI 1.59 to 5.07; p<0.001). Similarly, the barrier ‘Because nobody encourages me to engage in physical activity’ was related to a higher likelihood of having depression (OR=1.92; 95% CI 1.08 to 3.43; p=0.026), anxiety (OR=1.97; 95% CI 1.11 to 3.50; p=0.021) and stress (OR=1.99; 95% CI 1.12 to 3.59; p=0.021).Conclusion Perceived barriers to PA related to physical appearance and social support seem to be associated with a greater likelihood of depression, anxiety and stress among Spanish adolescents.