Boys who did not exercise in early childhood are more likely to suffer from depression than those who experienced regular physical activity during this age period. This is reported in a study by a psychologist-educator from the University of Montreal, Marie-Jose Harbeck. The work was published in the Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics.
Harbeck tried to establish a long-term relationship between sports and symptoms of depression and anxiety. The study was conducted among boys and girls aged 5 to 12 years. In addition, he studied the symptoms of emotional disorder in children aged 6 to 10 years.
To prove his theory, he began monitoring 690 boys and 748 girls in Quebec city. As a result, it turned out that boys who did not play sports at the age of five were more likely to look unhappy and tired at school. At the same time, male children who experienced regular physical activity at the age of 5 to 12 years did not experience such problems. This was due to the fact that they learned to apply this experience in life, which contributed to the development of their initiative. In addition, sports made it easier for them to communicate with their peers and adults.
At the same time, girls are more susceptible to stress than boys. Therefore, they often turn to parents and specialists for help. Thus, such psychological support protects them better than boys, Harbek believes.
Earlier it was reported that since September 1, 150 Russian schools have introduced football lessons.