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

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the association betweenintensephysical activityandstressin Koreanadolescents. The study used data from theKoreaYouthRisk BehaviorWeb-BasedSurvey(KYRBWS),2015-2017, that included 170,359 responses from Koreanadolescents.Intenseactivityandstresswere measured by self-diagnosis. Additionally, the chi-square test and multiple logistic regression analyses were used. It was revealed that 78.9% of Koreanadolescentswere exposed tostress. Students who engaged inphysical activitymore than five times per week were less likely to bestressedthan those who did not (boys odds ratio (OR): 0.79, confidence interval (CI): 0.78-0.80,pfor trend: <0.0001; girls OR: 0.77, CI: 0.75-0.79,pfor 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 experiencestressif they had insufficientexercise. In addition, the results confirmed that the probability of suicidal ideation increased as the frequency ofexercisedecreased. This study suggests thatintensephysical activityin Koreanadolescentshas a positiveeffectonstressmanagement in both boys and girls. Hence,physical activityshould be encouraged and implemented for managingstress.