Does achieving high levels of physical activity, decreasing screen time, and getting sufficient sleep to correlate with better mental health among children and adolescents over a 3 month period. P= Adolescents I= Increased physical activity and adequate sleep hours and decreased screen time C= Sedentary lifestyle behaviors O= To see a reduction in depressive symptoms and improve overall mental health T= 3 months following a diagnosis of depression S= Primary care clinic or mental health outpatient clinic
Title: The Impact of Physical Activity, Screen Time, and Sleep on Mental Health in Children and Adolescents: A 3-Month Study
Introduction:
Mental health issues, such as depression, among children and adolescents are a growing concern globally. Identifying effective interventions to improve mental health outcomes is crucial for clinical and public health practitioners. This study aims to investigate whether achieving high levels of physical activity, decreasing screen time, and getting sufficient sleep correlate with better mental health among children and adolescents over a 3-month period following a diagnosis of depression.
Research Objective:
The primary objective of this study is to assess the impact of increased physical activity, adequate sleep hours, and decreased screen time on reducing depressive symptoms and improving overall mental health in children and adolescents. This study will investigate whether these lifestyle modifications could serve as potential interventions to complement existing treatments for depression.
Study Design:
This study will utilize a quasi-experimental design, with participants divided into two groups: the intervention group and the control group. The intervention group will receive guidance and education on increasing physical activity, reducing screen time, and improving sleep hygiene. The control group will continue with their usual sedentary lifestyle behaviors. Data will be collected at baseline and at the end of a 3-month follow-up period.
Participants:
The study participants will be children and adolescents diagnosed with depression, recruited from either a primary care clinic or a mental health outpatient clinic. The sample size will be determined based on power analysis to ensure a sufficient number of participants to detect meaningful outcomes. Informed consent will be obtained from both the participants and their parents or legal guardians.
Intervention:
The intervention group will receive tailored guidance and education on increasing physical activity, reducing screen time, and improving sleep hygiene. The participants will be provided with personalized activity plans, incorporating both aerobic exercises and strength training. They will also receive information on the detrimental effects of excessive screen time and strategies to decrease it. Additionally, sleep hygiene guidelines will be given to encourage adequate sleep duration and quality.
Outcome Measures:
The primary outcome measure will be the reduction in depressive symptoms, assessed using validated measurement tools such as the Children’s Depression Inventory (CDI) or the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Secondary outcome measures will include improvements in overall mental health, assessed using rating scales like the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) or the Pediatric Symptom Checklist (PSC).
Data Collection and Analysis:
Data will be collected at baseline, including demographic information and baseline levels of physical activity, screen time, and sleep duration. Follow-up data will be collected at the end of the 3-month period. Descriptive statistics will be calculated for participant characteristics, and changes in outcome measures will be analyzed using appropriate statistical methods, such as t-tests or analysis of variance (ANOVA).
Potential Limitations:
Several limitations should be considered in this study. First, the quasi-experimental design may introduce selection bias, as participants self-select into the intervention or control group. Secondly, self-reporting of physical activity, screen time, and sleep duration may be prone to recall bias. Finally, the generalizability of findings may be limited to the specific clinic population from which participants are recruited.
Conclusion:
This study aims to investigate the impact of increased physical activity, reduced screen time, and adequate sleep on mental health outcomes in children and adolescents diagnosed with depression. The findings may contribute to the development of effective lifestyle-based interventions to improve mental health outcomes in this population. By leveraging the potential benefits of a healthy lifestyle, clinicians and public health practitioners can have a comprehensive approach to managing mental health in children and adolescents.