Recently published research has identified both the need for and benefits of multiple health behavior interventions for preventing youth substance use and improving mental health over those targeting a single risk factor.
Below is a sampling of individual research reports and reviews of research studies showing a strong connection between youth healthy lifestyle behaviors and their substance use and mental health.
Study #1:
A national study (JAMA Network, 2024) found that adolescents with adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) who engaged in healthy behaviors like eating healthy and sleep, exercise, and practicing meditation had significantly higher positive affect and lower perceived stress.
The authors concluded that the findings indicated the need to target multiple protective factors to promote health equity and improve mental health among adolescents at high risk for poor outcomes.
Read the study: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2816031#xd_co_f=Mzg0YzRhNjctNGFkMS00MDY5LTg2ZTUtMDVhMmNiZGYzZjRh~
Study #2:
A cross-national study of 45 countries (BMC Global and Public Health, 2024) examined the role of adolescent lifestyle risk behaviors and suicide thoughts and behaviors (STBs).
This study strongly supported that the clustering of lifestyle risk behaviors were associated with an increased risk of adolescent STBs.
Compared with the healthy lifestyle cluster, the insufficient vegetables and fruit cluster was associated with 43% and 42% higher odds of suicidal ideation and plan, followed by the tobacco smoking and alcohol drinking cluster (26% for ideation and 20% for plan).
The frequent soft drink and fast-food consumption cluster was associated with 2.85-fold increased odds of suicidal attempt, followed by the insufficient vegetables and fruits cluster (2.43-fold) and smoking and alcohol cluster (1.18-fold).
The authors concluded the study results support the need to initiate modifiable-lifestyle-oriented suicide prevention strategies.
Rad the study: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s44263-024-00055-4
Study #3:
A review of research (Mental Health and Physical Activity, 2023) found that there is a wealth of knowledge on the association between combined 24-hour movement behaviors (i.e., physical activity, sedentary behavior and sleep and the mental health of children and youth.
The studies reviewed found that 78% of articles reported a positive association between combined MB and mental wellness.
Additionally, 85% reported a negative association between combined MB and indicators of mental illness.
The authors concluded that the studies in this review highlight the importance of addressing multiple movement-related behaviors for enhancing youth mental health, particularly physical activity, sleep, and sedentary behaviors such as screen time.
Read the study: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1755296623000091
Study #4:
Another study (PLOS ONE, 2024) found that adolescents and young adults who increase exercise participation over time to even moderate levels (i.e., once weekly or more) experience health and mental health advantages compared to those who are consistently inactive or whose participation decreases over time.
Those who exercised once a week had better general health and reduced rates of psychological distress, were happier with life and were more optimistic for the future relative to participants exercising less than weekly.
The authors concluded that promoting recreational exercise among youths is necessary for enhancing both their mental and physical health.
Read the study: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0284660
Study #5:
A systematic review of research (International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2023) reported a global decrease in physical activity levels associated with decreased well-being levels, modified eating habits and leisure time activity, and increased obesity, anxiety, and depression among adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The authors concluded that physical activity is a significant health determinant and should be improved through the awareness of the benefits of regular physical activity and of the risks of sedentary behavior, as well as through support from family, friends, and teachers.
Read the study: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/20/4/3275
Study #6:
This earlier published study (Pediatrics, 2019) examined associations of meeting established recommendations for diet, physical activity, sleep, and sedentary behavior in childhood with mental illness in adolescence.
Results showed that compared with meeting 1 to 3 recommendations, meeting 7 to 9 recommendations was associated with 56% fewer physician visits for mental illness during follow-up.
Furthermore, every additional recommendation met was associated with 15% fewer physician visits for mental illnesses.
The researchers concluded that emphasizing lifestyle recommendations may reduce the future burden of mental illness.
Study #7:
A large-scale study (Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, 2022) found a positive association between leisure-time physical activity and mental health among youth.
Key findings suggest that leisure-time moderate-to-vigorous physical activity is associated with better mental health in a dose–response manner.
Even the smallest dose, 30 weekly minutes, was linked to 17% lower odds of chronic stress symptoms compared to inactivity.
Compared to non-active transportation, more than 30 min of daily active school transport yielded 19% and 33% higher odds of depression symptoms and school psychologist visits, respectively.
The researchers concluded that the findings emphasize the importance of providing high-quality, enjoyable leisure physical activity opportunities for all youth—even the small doses can make a difference, and that promoting walking or cycling to school can improve health among adolescents.
Read the study: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/sms.14292
Study #8:
A meta-analysis of research reports (Psychological Bulletin, 2024) showed a positive, linear effect of the number of behavioral recommendations associated with behavioral and clinical change across all domains.
Each behavioral recommendation contributes to positive behavioral and clinical change.
For example, recommending four behaviors would result in approximately 0.10 SDs of clinical and behavioral improvement over not recommending any behavioral recommendations.
These results indicate the additional positive outcomes resulting from targeting multiple health behavior recommendations over none or just one behavioral problem.
Read the study: https://psycnet.apa.org/fulltext/2024-97069-001.html
Study #9:
Another review of research (Mental Health and Physical Activity, 2023) found that a range of physical activity intervention formats and modalities may decrease substance use and associated outcomes and increase physical activity participation among young people at risk for problematic substance use.
Sixty-one percent (61%) of the studies reported a significant improvement in outcomes related to tobacco (e.g., abstinence, cravings, withdrawal symptoms, smoking pattern), alcohol (e.g., quantity, frequency), or other substance use (e.g., frequency, quantity, recent use).
The researchers concluded that a range of physical activity interventions may provide an accessible, engaging, and motivating intervention for young people who do not identify their substance use as problematic.
Read the study: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1755296623000492
Conclusions
These published studies and reviews of research identify a clear association between healthy lifestyle behaviors, including physical activity, healthy eating, and sleep and both substance use and mental health of youth.
Together this research highlights the need for and benefits of targeting healthy behaviors within prevention interventions for reducing youth substance use and enhancing their mental wellbeing.
Read more about healthy lifestyle guidelines for youth: https://preventionpluswellness.com/pages/healthy-lifestyle-guidelines-for-youth-and-young-adult-goal-setting