However, Physical Activity Was Particularly Beneficial for Teens with ASD or ADHD
Using data from the National Survey of Children’s Health 2016-2020, researchers from Rowan University examined the association between physical activity and anxiety or depression among adolescents (ages 12-17) with either autism, ADHD, or without either disorder. The results show that increased physical activity is associated with significantly lower reported incidences of anxiety or depression among all three groups. However, the reduction in reported anxiety or depression associated with greater physical activity was at least as large or larger among adolescents with autism or adolescents with ADHD than among neurotypical youth. Even with regular physical activity, adolescents with autism and adolescents with ADHD still reported high levels of anxiety and depression, indicating a need for identifying underlying causes and access to various treatments. The authors suggest their findings highlight the need to determine the cause-and-effect relationship between physical activity, anxiety, and depression across all groups. They also advocate for prioritizing mental health screenings for adolescents with autism and adolescents with ADHD.
