It’s a common recommendation for adults dealing with stress: get some exercise. But does the same hold true for children? According to researchers from the University of Basel, physical activity can help school children manage the pressures of academic achievement.
In a study led by Dr. Manuel Hanke and Dr. Sebastian Ludyga, 110 children between the ages of 10 and 13 wore sensors to track their daily movement for a week. The participants then completed a stressful task and a non-stressful control task in a lab setting. The researchers measured the children’s stress levels using cortisol levels in their saliva.
The results were clear: children who engaged in more than an hour of exercise per day, as recommended by the World Health Organization, had lower cortisol levels during the stress task compared to less active children. Even in the control task, where participants faced an unfamiliar situation, the cortisol levels of more active children were lower overall.
One possible explanation for these findings is that regular exercise helps the brain associate a rise in cortisol with something positive, preventing excessive stress during exams and other high-pressure situations.
In addition to analyzing saliva samples, the researchers also recorded participants’ brainwaves to study cognitive reactions to stress. The team plans to further explore the influence of physical activity on these cognitive effects.
The study used the Trier Social Stress Test for Children, where participants had to read an open-ended story and then improvise the ending for a jury. They were also given a challenging arithmetic task. In the control task, participants discussed a story with a researcher without any performance pressure.
These findings highlight the importance of physical activity in helping children cope with the stress of school. So, parents, encourage your kids to get moving for better stress management and overall well-being.
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