ArticleChild and adolescent psychiatry and mental health2025
The impact of physical exercise on internalizing and externalizing problem behaviors among middle school students: correlation and regression prediction analysis.
Article in Child and adolescent psychiatry and mental health, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 9 papers.
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Who cites it
9 citing papers in PubMed.
- Associations of Fitbit measured physical activity and sedentary behavior with mental health in U.S. youth: a quantile regression analysis.Child and adolescent mental health · 2026Article
- When distress meets disability: social connectedness buffers functional impairment in university students.Scientific reports · 2026Article
- The impact of negative life events on internalizing problems in adolescents: the chain mediating effects of physical activity and emotional competence.Frontiers in psychology · 2026Article
- Effects of physical activity on externalizing problems in adolescents with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: the chain mediating effects of school connectedness and self-control.Frontiers in psychology · 2026Article
- The correlation between latent types of emotional processing, physical exercise and aggressive behavior among middle school students: a study based on latent profile analysis.Frontiers in psychology · 2026Article
- Longitudinal reciprocal associations between physical exercise and aggressive behavior in adolescents: a cross-lagged analysis.Frontiers in public health · 2026Article
- Exploring the relationship between physical activity, flood experience, eco-anxiety, and youth well-being in a changing climate.Scientific reports · 2025Article
- Longitudinal relationships among early adolescent physical exercise, internalizing symptoms, and learning engagement: exploring within-person dynamics and the role of gender differences.Child and adolescent psychiatry and mental health · 2025Article
- Psychosocial well-being in middle schoolers: effects of a school cycling program in the wake of COVID-19.Frontiers in sports and active living · 2025Article
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Authors and funding
6 authors.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundThis study explored the impact of physical exercise on internalizing and externalizing problem behaviors among Chinese middle school students.
methodsA cross-sectional survey was conducted among 6368 middle school students from Sichuan, Guangdong, Shandong, Henan, and Jiangxi provinces, using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), Achenbach Youth Self-Report (YSR), and Depression-Anxiety-Stress Scales (DASS). Latent class analysis, multiple linear regression, and Kendall's tau coefficient tests were employed to analyze the data.
resultsPhysical exercise significantly reduced externalizing problem behaviors, including impulsivity (β = 0.188, p < 0.001), hostility (β = 0.129, p < 0.001), and aggressiveness (β = 0.158, p < 0.001), and also alleviated depression (β = 0.087, p < 0.01). Latent class analysis revealed that students with high levels of exercise had significantly fewer externalizing behaviors compared to low-level exercisers (p < 0.001). High-intensity exercise had greater effects, particularly on impulsivity and hostility. Rural male students exhibited higher levels of aggressiveness and hostility, while urban female students benefited more from exercise interventions.
conclusionPhysical exercise has a significant positive impact on reducing externalizing problem behaviors, especially impulsivity, hostility, and aggressiveness, among middle school students. However, its effects on internalizing behaviors are relatively limited. Intervention strategies should consider individual characteristics such as gender and location to maximize effectiveness.
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