The mediating role of self-esteem in the association between physical fitness and risk of depression in adolescents: DADOS Study

ABSTRACT

Background: Previous literature showed an inverse association between physical fitness and risk of depression in adolescents, but the mechanisms involved in this association remain unclear. Aims: The primary aim of the study was to test the mediating role of self-esteem on the association between physical fitness components and risk of depression. The secondary aim was to investigate sex differences in these mediation models. Methods: A total of 225 participants (44% girls), aged 13.9 ± 0.3 years, from the DADOS (Deporte, ADOlescencia y Salud) study were included in the analyses. The results presented in this study belong to baseline data obtained between February and May of 2015. ALPHA-Fitness Test-Battery was used to evaluate physical fitness components. The Spanish version of the Behaviour Assessment System for Children-3 questionnaire was used to asses self-esteem and risk of depression. Boot-strapped mediation procedures were performed and indirect effects (IE) with confidence intervals (CI) not including zero were considered statistically significant. Results: Self-esteem was revealed as a mediator in the association between cardiorespiratory fitness and risk of depression (IE =  −0.059; 95% CI = −0.098 to −0.015) and in the association between speed-agility and risk of depression (IE = −1.800; 95% CI = −3.117 to –0.623). Stratified mediation analyses by sex showed similar results in girls, but self-esteem did not act as a mediator in boys. Conclusion: Our findings indicate that high levels of cardiorespiratory fitness and speed-agility may improve self-esteem, which could have positive effects in mental health by reducing risk of depression in adolescents, especially in girls.

KEYWORDS:

• Physical fitness
• adolescence
• risk of depression
• self-esteem
• mental health

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: The DADOS Study is funded by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (DEP2013–45515-R) and by the Jaume I University of Castellon (P1·1A2015-05, UJI-B2018-40, UJI-A2019-12). This work is partly supported by a Sunny Sport research grant from the Schweppes Suntory Spain Company. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the funding institutions.