246. Effects of Acute Exercise and Meditation on Mood and Affect in Youth
S. Rogers, Mariya Matsko, J. Evanski, S. Desai, Paige Arvidson, Camryn Kowalski, A. Bhogal, Leah C. Gowatch, Clara G. Zundel, J. Barcelona, Hilary A Marusak
Biological Psychiatry May 1, 2023 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2023.02.486 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial (preliminary findings from an ongoing trial) Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 25 |
| Population | Youth from the Metro Detroit area (52% female, 48% Black; mean age 12.92 years, SD 2.18) |
| Interventions | Moderate-intensity treadmill walking light-intensity stretching seated meditation |
| Duration | Single 30-minute session |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key findings | A single 30-minute session of moderate-intensity treadmill walking, light-intensity stretching, or seated meditation was associated with reduced negative mood and affect and increased positive affect, with no significant differences between conditions. Youths with higher baseline negative mood showed greater reductions in negative mood. |
Abstract
Background: Physical activity (PA) has shown to have beneficial effects on children's health and development. However, a reduced focus on PA programming in schools and home environments may contribute to the increasing prevalence of mental health problems among youth, particularly following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Here, we report preliminary findings from an ongoing randomized controlled trial of acute exercise (light-intensity or moderate-intensity) and meditation on mood and affect in youth. Method(s): Youth participants recruited from the Metro Detroit area (N =25: 52% female, 48% black;Mean + SD age =12.92 + 2.18yrs) were randomly assigned to a single 30-minute session of either (1) moderate-intensity treadmill walking, (2) light-intensity stretching, or (3) a seated meditation session. Mood and positive and negative affect were measured pre- and post-session. Result(s): There was a pre-to-post-session reduction in negative mood and affect scores and an increase in positive affect (p's<0.05, d's 0.42-0.67). However, no significant main effects of condition or condition x time interaction were observed (p>0.05). Youth with higher negative baseline mood scores showed greater reductions in negative mood following the 30-minute session, as compared to youth with lower negative moods (r=0.87, p< 0.001). Conclusion(s): Acute light and moderate-intensity exercise, as well as meditation, were associated with reductions in negative mood and affect and increases in positive affect. Further, the antidepressant effects of acute exercise and meditation were more pronounced among youth with poorer baseline moods. These findings have implications for the use of PA and meditation-based interventions to combat mental health problems in youth.
Funding: Source: Wayne State University, National Institute of Mental Health, and the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Keywords: Affect, Adolescent Depression, Mental health, exercise intervention, Mindfulness MeditationCopyright © 2023
Comparable studies
Other randomized controlled trials on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alterations in Brain and Immune Function Produced by Mindfulness Meditation Healthy employees in a work environment | 2003 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 41 |
| Prevention of relapse/recurrence in major depression by mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. Recovered recurrently depressed patients | 2000 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 145 |
| Open hearts build lives: Positive emotions, induced through loving-kindness meditation, build consequential personal resources. Working adults | 2008 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 139 |
| Short-term meditation training improves attention and self-regulation Undergraduate Chinese students | 2007 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 40 |
| Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression: Replication and Exploration of Differential Relapse Prevention Effects. Recovered recurrently depressed patients | 2004 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 73 |