Psychological distress leads to reduced physical activity and fitness in children: the Australian longitudinal LOOK study.

ACCELEROMETERS; CHILD psychology; CONFIDENCE intervals; STATISTICAL correlation; DEPRESSION in children; FACTOR analysis; PHYSICAL fitness; PROBABILITY theory; QUESTIONNAIRES; RESEARCH funding; PSYCHOLOGICAL stress; PEDOMETERS; CROSS-sectional method; SEDENTARY lifestyles; PHYSICAL activity; DATA analysis software; ODDS ratio

The article discusses findings of the LOOK Study to determine the longitudinal effects of physical activity of children in Australia. It notes that 676 children were surveyed with the Children's Depression Inventory and Stress Questionnaire. The inventory reveals that experiences of depression and stress have a negative effect on the physical activity and fitness levels of children. It describes key symptoms of Major Depressive Disorder including anhedonia, tiredness, and decreased energy.