In 6- to 8-year-old children, cardiorespiratory fitness moderates the relationship between severity of life events and health-related quality of life

Abstract

Recent stressful experiences alone were not sufficient to explain negative health outcomes in young children. Children with low cardiorespiratory fitness levels experienced lower psychological wellbeing when they were exposed to critical life events. More research is needed to find out whether similar findings emerge with objective physical activity measurements and when critical life events are assessed over longer periods of time.

Physical Fitness Levels Do Not Affect Stress Levels in a Sample of Norwegian Adolescents

“…Physical inactivity, low physical fitness, and perceived stress during childhood and adolescence are presumed to be risk factors for various chronic conditions including cardiovascular diseases (Petersen et al, 2012 ; Bergh et al, 2015 ), depressive symptoms (Motl et al, 2004 ; Brunet et al, 2013 ), pain and subjective health complaints (Sundblad et al, 2008 ). In turn, physical fitness and physical activity are presumed to moderate the negative effects of stress and protect against stress-related health complaints in children and adolescents (Haugland et al, 2003 ; Hegberg and Tone, 2015 ; Gerber et al, 2017a ). Gerber et al ( 2017a ) recently revealed that children (6- to 8-year-old) with higher physical fitness levels, in terms of cardiorespiratory fitness (measured by 20 m shuttle run test), experienced higher levels of psychological well-being relative to their less fit peers when exposed to elevated stress levels (parental questionnaire), and higher levels of physical wellbeing when stress levels were low.…”

“…In turn, physical fitness and physical activity are presumed to moderate the negative effects of stress and protect against stress-related health complaints in children and adolescents (Haugland et al, 2003 ; Hegberg and Tone, 2015 ; Gerber et al, 2017a ). Gerber et al ( 2017a ) recently revealed that children (6- to 8-year-old) with higher physical fitness levels, in terms of cardiorespiratory fitness (measured by 20 m shuttle run test), experienced higher levels of psychological well-being relative to their less fit peers when exposed to elevated stress levels (parental questionnaire), and higher levels of physical wellbeing when stress levels were low. Furthermore, children with higher physical activity, as reported by their parents, demonstrated better overall health-related quality of life (parental questionnaire), but only if they experienced low stress (Gerber et al, 2017a ).…”

“…Gerber et al ( 2017a ) recently revealed that children (6- to 8-year-old) with higher physical fitness levels, in terms of cardiorespiratory fitness (measured by 20 m shuttle run test), experienced higher levels of psychological well-being relative to their less fit peers when exposed to elevated stress levels (parental questionnaire), and higher levels of physical wellbeing when stress levels were low. Furthermore, children with higher physical activity, as reported by their parents, demonstrated better overall health-related quality of life (parental questionnaire), but only if they experienced low stress (Gerber et al, 2017a ). Recently, Cowley et al ( 2017 ) confirmed an inverse relationship between total self-perceived stress and physical activity during spare time in adolescents.…”

“…In particular, cardiorespiratory fitness is proposed to protect against health-threatening reactions to acute psychosocial stress (Wyss et al, 2016 ; Gerber et al, 2017a ), and stress-related symptoms of burnout and depression (Gerber et al, 2013a , b ; Elliot et al, 2015 ). Recently, authors have recommended vigorous physical activity in adolescents to prevent burnout symptoms in this group, based on the demonstrated negative correlations between these variables (Gerber et al, 2013b ; Elliot et al, 2015 ).…”

“…In general, physical activity and physical fitness are considered beneficial in adolescents, resulting in consensus statements and activity guidelines for this group (Hallal et al, 2006 ; Tremblay et al, 2011 ). Several of the health beneficial effects, with respect to various subjective health complaints including pain and psychological symptoms, apparently relate to reduced stress or stress resilience (Haugland et al, 2003 ; Sundblad et al, 2008 ; Moljord et al, 2014 ; Bergh et al, 2015 ; Hegberg and Tone, 2015 ; Gerber et al, 2017a ). Mindfulness qualities also seem related to reduced stress in adolescents (Bluth et al, 2015 ; Galla, 2016 ).…”