Physical activity has a well-documented positive impact on mental health, and in a concerning trend, physical activity rates among teenagers are declining. This is particularly alarming as the mental well-being of adolescents continues to deteriorate, with one in six school children in the US being diagnosed with some form of mental disorder. To address this issue, researchers in the United States have explored how participation in a school-based cycling program affects the psychosocial well-being of adolescents.
Dr. Esther Walker, the research director at the non-profit organization Outride, explained, “Participation in a school cycling education program during the Covid-19 pandemic was associated with improved psychosocial well-being amongst middle schoolers in the US. While we saw promising increases in some student subgroups, certain groups had higher levels of self-reported mental well-being both before and after participating in the program.”
The study, published in “Frontiers in Sports and Active Living,” received positive feedback. Fletcher Dementyev, a research assistant at Loma Linda University and the study’s first author, expressed his enthusiasm, saying, “It was really encouraging to see such a positive student response to a cycling-specific physical education program. This motivates us, and hopefully others, to continue investigating and developing cycling as a pathway to improved health and well-being in adolescents.”
PROMOTING BETTER MENTAL HEALTH THROUGH CYCLING
Outride is a non-profit organization that collaborates with schools to provide cycling programs. Dr. Sean Wilson, a researcher at Loma Linda University and the study’s senior author, elaborated, “The Riding for Focus (R4F) program aims to equip students with basic cycling knowledge and experience, so that they may ride safely and confidently. A bicycle can be used for leisure activities, competition, and transportation. Thus, not only are students participating in an activity that improves their health and well-being, but also one that empowers them to explore the world.”
More than 1,200 middle schoolers, aged 11 to 14 years, participated in the program’s surveys. Before and after cycling, they completed two surveys that included measures of current mental well-being and psychological functioning. The findings indicated that short-term physical activity programs have the potential to positively influence mental health and well-being in adolescents.
ADDRESSING SOCIOECONOMIC FACTORS
The study also examined social risk factors that influence well-being pre- and post-program participation. Dr. Wilson clarified, “We focused on a number of key risk factors that affect mental health and well-being in middle school-aged children in the US, including socio-economic status, gender, and race.”
The results showed that males, white students, and those from higher socio-economic status families had a reduced relative risk of developing psychosocial disorders post-intervention. While female students’ well-being improved significantly, male students maintained higher well-being scores compared to females after the program. Non-white students also experienced a significant increase in well-being post-program. This positive impact aligns with previous studies showing that physical activity programs can enhance the psychosocial well-being of ethnic minorities, particularly those from low-income families.
Dr. Walker emphasized that while participation in cycling programs can positively affect daily life, large-scale improvements necessitate changes in policies and the reduction of systemic disparities in access to nutrition, healthcare, safe environments, and more.
The authors acknowledged certain limitations of the study, such as the study population not fully representing the nationwide student population. Nonetheless, they view this research as the start of a national dialogue regarding investment in cycling education and its potential benefits.
