The Effects of Intense Physical Activity on Stress in Adolescents: Findings from Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-Based Survey (2015–2017)

Hwi Jun Kim, So Yeon Oh, Doo Woong Lee, Junhyun Kwon and Eun-Cheol Park
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Hwi Jun Kim: Department of Public Health, Graduate School, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Korea
So Yeon Oh: Department of Public Health, Graduate School, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Korea
Doo Woong Lee: Department of Public Health, Graduate School, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Korea
Junhyun Kwon: Department of Public Health, Graduate School, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Korea
Eun-Cheol Park: Institute of Health Services Research, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Korea

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 10, 1-13

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between intense physical activity and stress in Korean adolescents. The study used data from the Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-Based Survey (KYRBWS), 2015–2017, that included 170,359 responses from Korean adolescents. Intense activity and stress were measured by self-diagnosis. Additionally, the chi-square test and multiple logistic regression analyses were used. It was revealed that 78.9% of Korean adolescents were exposed to stress. Students who engaged in physical activity more than five times per week were less likely to be stressed than those who did not (boys odds ratio (OR): 0.79, confidence interval (CI): 0.78–0.80, p for trend: <0.0001; girls OR: 0.77, CI: 0.75–0.79, p for trend: <0.0001). The results indicated the same tendency among both boys and girls. The results of subgroup analysis revealed that students living with relatives or in childcare facilities were more likely to experience stress if they had insufficient exercise. In addition, the results confirmed that the probability of suicidal ideation increased as the frequency of exercise decreased. This study suggests that intense physical activity in Korean adolescents has a positive effect on stress management in both boys and girls. Hence, physical activity should be encouraged and implemented for managing stress.

Keywords: intense physical activity; stress; residence type; suicidal ideation; Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-Based Survey (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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