The ends do not justify the means in promoting physical activity and mental health
Mental health problems have become one of the most substantial global public health challenges.
The concerning trend is also evident in Finland: anxiety and depression are increasingly prevalent among young people, and mental disorders have become a leading cause of long-term sickness absence and disability pensions, particularly among young adults.
World Health Organization under criticism
In January, the World Health Organization (WHO) published a policy brief encouraging decision-makers to promote active mobility as means to improve population mental health.
The brief was based on selective reporting and misinterpretation of the existing evidence.
Engaging in regular physical activity can both prevent and alleviate the most common mental health symptoms, such as depression and anxiety. However, not all forms of physical activity benefit mental wellbeing. The evidence regarding the mental health outcomes of everyday physical activity, such as active commuting to school or work, remains inconsistent and methodologically limited. Further research is needed on this topic.
Leisure-time physical activity, in particular, plays an important role in promoting mental health, as it is more often autonomous, meaningful, and enjoyable.
It is also more likely to provide opportunities for positive social interactions and mastery experiences, such as skill acquisition.
How school-based physical activity and organised sports enhance youth mental health?
Mental health problems are complex and often stigmatised.
It is crucial that measures and communication aimed at promoting mental health through physical activity are based on robust and conclusive scientific evidence.
Otherwise, we may inadvertently slow down the recognition of exercise training as an effective co-treatment for mental disorders and its integration into public healthcare.
In January, a new research project funded by the Juho Vainio Foundation was launched at the Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences. The project aims to examine how and in what contexts school-based physical activity and organised sports can strengthen mental health among adolescents. The project utilises data from the LIITU (F-SPA) study, which gathers information about the behaviours, attitudes, values and experiences related to the physical activity of Finnish children and adolescents.
The research project will generate new knowledge about the mechanisms underlying the association between physical activity and mental health.
We predict that the findings will help guide the development of physical education and sports club activities so that young people’s mental health is addressed more systematically and effectively.
Juuso Jussila works as a grant-funded Postdoctoral Researcher at the Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences at the University of Jyväskylä. Jussila leads the research project “Examining the roles of physical activity domains, motivational factors, and the psychosocial environment in youth mental health”.
