Effect of Physical Exercise Training on Bullying and Depression in a Classroom: A Case Report

Abstract

In a previous study conducted to assess the impact of physical exercise on the symptoms of depression and anxiety in preadolescents in the school environment, which included a subgroup of participants comprising eleven randomly selected teens (aged 9–11) and all enrolled in primary education, it was immediately observed that one participant referred to as Andy was being bullied and teased, and the teachers were completely unaware of this scenario. All the participants of the study were volunteers, and were subjected to low-to-moderate intensity exercise four times a week for five weeks. Psychological self-assessments and physical examinations were performed before and after the program as a part of a blind assessment. In the intervention sessions, the therapists and participants remained unaware of the individual scores. The sessions included the games that highlighted the feeling of movement, postural control, and slow relay races with balancing, in combination with other cooperative, interactive games focused on fun and social contact rather than focusing on the performance. It was reiterated to the participants that mockery was completely prohibited during the program. After the intervention, a significant decrease was observed in the anxiety levels and depression scores of the participants. The most significant change was observed in the participant who was a victim of bullying during the initial training sessions. No changes were observed in the general atmosphere of the classroom. Bullying is quite common (>10%) and is most often completely overlooked. The present study demonstrated a decrease in the symptoms of depression and anxiety in a non-clinical sample of pre-teens attending elementary school when they completed a low-to-moderate exercise program that combined movement and pleasure and encouraged positive and non-competitive interactions among the participants. The program proved to be particularly beneficial for a bullied individual.