Longitudinal Analysis of Health Behaviors and Mental Health

Background and Purpose. The transition from adolescence to adulthood can be a challenging and stressful period for individuals as they face new financial and social responsibilities putting them at an increased risk to develop symptoms of mental illness like depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, and suicidal thoughts. Few studies have examined the protective role that engagement in health behaviors in adolescence may have on these mental health risks in young adulthood. The present study aimed to examine how sleep and physical activity in adolescence effected adult mental health outcomes.

Method. The current study is a longitudinal analysis of the data from the First and Fourth Wave of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health) (general release; N = 5114, female 54%). Add Health was a longitudinal study beginning at Wave 1 with a nationally representative sample of adolescents in the U.S. in grades 7 – 12 in the 1994 – 1995 school year. Wave IV was collected between 2008 and 2009, at which individuals were between the ages of 24-32 years old. Data was collected using a 90-minute CAPI/ CASI instrument (computer-assisted interviews). Health behaviors in adolescence were measured utilizing a self-report questions about frequency of physical activities performed and number of hours typically slept at Wave I. Depressive symptoms and Self-esteem were measured on a Likert Scale at Wave IV. Eleven self-report questions for depressive symptoms measured experiences of feeling bothered, depressed, exhausted, unhappy, having low self-esteem, the blues, and poor concentration (a=.83). Self-esteem was measured through 6 self-report questions about experiences of perceived intelligence, attractiveness, control, confidence, and abilities (a=.63).

Results. Results of eight One-Way ANOVAs indicated that individuals who participated in active sports more frequently during their adolescence had higher self-esteem as young adults than their adult counterparts with little to no participation in an active sport. Additionally, individuals who participated in active sports more frequently during their adolescence also had lower depressive systems than their adult counterparts. Those that slept in the healthy range of sleep for adolescence (8-10 hours) had higher self-esteem and lower depressive symptoms than those in the lack of sleep category (less than 7 hours) and those in the oversleep category (more than 10 hours).

Conclusions and Implications. The transition from adolescence to adulthood can be a challenging period in an individual’s life and without proper health habits in place, an individual may be at increased risk for negative mental health outcomes. Using the present study, we can better understand the need for implementing community based intervention and prevention strategies to help instill health habits early on before they have lasting effects on an individual’s mental health. The present study is unique because it looked at specific domains of physical activity that adolescence participated in during adolescence and how those individually affected mental health outcomes. The present study found active sports to be specifically significant identifying a critical need for overcoming barriers to individuals who are not able to participate in active sports due to financial and familial obstacles.