The relationship of leisure-time sedentary behavior, physical activity, and Generalized Anxiety Disorder among adolescents

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of adolescents' sedentary behavior, physical activity, and resistance training on generalized anxiety disorder (GAD-7). The study utilized data from the 17th Korean Youth Health Behavior Online Survey conducted by the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2021. Items on sedentary behavior, physical activity, subjective health status, suicidal ideation, stress, sleep, and GAD-7 were analyzed among 49,998 respondents after excluding missing data. The results showed that sedentary behavior was positively associated with GAD-7, while resistance training was identified as a factor that could reduce the risk of GAD-7 in adolescents more specifically than overall moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. The increasing trend of sedentary behavior and lack of physical activity among adolescents worldwide has been linked to obesity, metabolic syndrome, and mental health issues. Continuous research and recommendations are needed to improve the physical and mental health of adolescents and enhance their quality of life.