07.05.2025.
New research from Norway gives parents, teachers, and teens an important message: moving your body more in your teenage years may help protect your mental health.
Depression is becoming more common in young people, especially during adolescence (the period from around 12 to 18 years old). That’s why scientists are trying to find ways to help prevent it — and one promising approach is encouraging physical activity.
What did the study look at?
Researchers followed nearly 900 Norwegian children from the age of 6 all the way to 18. Every two years, they checked:
- How much physical activity the children were doing using wearable trackers (like step counters).
- Whether the children showed signs of depression through expert interviews.
- Other possible influences like how they felt about their bodies, their self-confidence in sports, and whether they took part in team sports.
Moving helps, especially in the teenage years
The researchers discovered that teenagers who were more physically active had fewer signs of depression.
This was especially true from the ages of 14 to 18. In fact, if a teen increased their physical activity during this time, they were less likely to develop depressive symptoms compared to their own past levels.
On the other hand, when teenagers became less active, they often started showing more signs of depression. This suggests that changes in your own activity levels matter — it’s not just about being more or less active than other kids.
Interestingly, this connection between physical activity and depression wasn’t seen in younger children (ages 6 to 12), and just sitting a lot (“sedentary time”) didn’t show a strong link to depression either.
Why might this happen?
The researchers also explored some possible reasons why being active might help:
- Better body image: Teens who move more might feel better about how they look.
- Higher self-esteem in sports: Feeling good at physical activities can build confidence.
- Social benefits from team sports: Being part of a sports group can improve mood through friendship and feeling connected.
However, in this study, these factors didn’t fully explain the link between activity and mental health — which means more research is needed to understand exactly why movement helps.
What this means for parents and teens
- Keep moving during the teenage years: It doesn’t have to be intense workouts — biking, walking, dancing, or playing sports can all help.
- Even small increases in activity can make a difference: Teens don’t need to become athletes. The key is doing more than before.
- Focus on enjoyment: Encouraging fun, social activities that get the body moving may be more sustainable and helpful.
The teenage years are full of changes — in body, mind, and emotions. This study reminds us that something as simple as staying active can have a powerful effect on mental health.
