A prospective analysis of physical activity and mental health in children: the GECKO Drenthe cohort

BACKGROUND: Mental health problems in young people have become a global health burden. The positive effects of physical activity on mental health in adults are well known but still not clear in children. The aim of this study was to investigate to what extent physical activity in early childhood would affect mental health in middle childhood. METHODS: From the Dutch GECKO Drenthe birth cohort, 850 children (51.5% boys) were enrolled in this analysis. Physical activity and sedentary time were measured at age 5–6 using ActiGraph GT3X. Mental health was assessed using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) at age 5–6 and age 10–11. Multiple linear regression models were used to estimate the associations between physical activity, sedentary time and SDQ subscales, stratified by gender, adjusting for age, BMI, maternal education level, family size, accelerometer wear time and season, and additionally adjusting for SDQ scores at age 5–6 to take tracking of mental health over time into account. RESULTS: Greater physical activity volume at age 5–6 was associated with lower peer problems scores at age 10–11 in boys and girls. An increase in MVPA was associated with lower peer problems scores in boys (b = -0.445, -0.713 to -0.176) and girls (b = -0.354, -0.601 to -0.107), however, increased sedentary time was linked to higher peer problems scores in boys (b = 1.18, 0.455 to 1.906) and girls (b = 0.870, 0.191 to 1.550). For hyperactivity, higher levels of physical activity volume and MVPA were associated with higher hyperactivity scores in boys. Increased sedentary time was related to lower hyperactivity scores in boys. Further adjustment for SDQ scores at age 5–6 attenuated associations between physical activity and hyperactivity in boys but hardly changed the relationships with peer problems. No significant associations between physical activity and other SDQ subscales or total difficulties scores were observed, neither in boys nor in girls. CONCLUSIONS: Children who are more physically active at age 5–6 have fewer peer problems at age 10–11, and for boys, greater activity levels at age 5–6 could be an indicator of hyperactivity at age 10–11. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12966-023-01506-1.