Could greater physical activity reduce population prevalence and socio-economic inequalities in children’s mental health problems? A policy simulation

Chigogora, S., Pearce, A. , Law, C., Viner, R., Chittleborough, C., Griffiths, L. and Hope, S. (2020) Could greater physical activity reduce population prevalence and socio-economic inequalities in children’s mental health problems? A policy simulation. Epidemiology, 31(1), pp. 115-125. (doi: 10.1097/EDE.0000000000001113) (PMID:31789939) (PMCID:PMC6889907)

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Abstract

Background: One in four children aged 5-16 years (y) shows signs of mental health problems in the UK; risk is higher in economically disadvantaged groups. Greater physical activity is associated with lower risk of internalizing problems such as depression and anxiety. We simulated the potential impact of population-wide physical activity interventions on overall prevalence of internalizing problems, and by family income. Interventions were based on the World Health Organization (WHO) children’s target of 60 minutes (min) of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity per day and trial evidence. Methods: Data were from the UK Millennium Cohort Study, a population-representative cohort of children born in 2000-2002. Household income (5y) was the exposure; internalizing problems (outcome) were measured using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (11y). Of 18,296 singletons, 6,497 had accelerometer physical activity data (mediator, manipulated to simulate interventions) at 7y. We predicted probabilities of outcome according to exposure in marginal structural models, weighted for attrition and confounding, and adjusted for observed mediator. We then re-estimated probabilities in different physical activity intervention scenarios, assessing income inequalities in internalizing problems with risk ratios (RRs) and differences (RDs) according to income quintile. Results: Simulating universal achievement of the WHO target led to little change in prevalence (10% [95% CI: 8%,12%]) and socioeconomic inequalities in internalizing problems; RR: 2.2 (1.1, 3.4); RD: 8% [5%,13%]). More modest increases in physical activity achieved weaker results. Conclusion: Our simulations suggest that large increases in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity in the UK would have little effect on prevalence and inequalities in child mental health problems.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Pearce, Dr Anna
Authors: Chigogora, S., Pearce, A., Law, C., Viner, R., Chittleborough, C., Griffiths, L., and Hope, S.
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > MRC/CSO SPHSU
Journal Name:Epidemiology
Publisher:Lippincott, Williams and Wilkins
ISSN:1044-3983
ISSN (Online):1531-5487
Published Online:01 October 2019
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2019 The Author(s)
First Published:First published in Epidemiology 31(1):115-125
Publisher Policy:Reproduced under a Creative Commons License

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Project CodeAward NoProject NamePrincipal InvestigatorFunder's NameFunder RefLead Dept
174091Improving life chances & reducing child health inequalities: harnessing the untapped potential of existing dataAnna PearceWellcome Trust (WELLCOTR)205412/Z/16/ZSHW - MRC/CSO Social & Public Health Sciences Unit
727651Measuring and Analysing Socioeconomic Inequalities in HealthAlastair LeylandMedical Research Council (MRC)MC_UU_12017/13HW - MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit