Nov 25 2008
Anger Expression in Kids May be Reduced by Exercise
Exercise is great for many reasons. It helps reduce anxiety, stress, and depression in kids and adults, for instance. A new study indicates exercise may also help reduce anger expression in overweight children.
The study was conducted by Dr. Catherine Davis, a clinical health psychologist at the Medical College of Georgia School of Medicine with 208 overweight 7-11 year-olds who were typically sedentary. The kids either stayed with their typical after school routine or participated in a 10-15 week aerobic program after school.
According to the results, exercise had a significant impact on anger expression. Furthermore, exercise seemed to reduce anger expression significantly, regardless of social economic status, race, fitness level, gender, or weight. Dr. Davis stated, “This finding indicates that aerobic exercise may be an effective strategy to help overweight kids reduce anger expression and aggressive behaviors.”
Dr. Davis doesn’t know for sure if the exercise itself reduced anger expression in children or if having extra positive attention from adults helped reduce anger expression. Thus, she is doing another study in order to help determine what is reducing anger expression in kids specifically.
In the new study, she will put some overweight children in an aerobic exercise program after school while other children will participate in an after school program where they can do arts and crafts and play games. She asserts this should help her determine if exercise or having positive attention from adults and changing a kid’s after school routine is reducing anger expression in overweight children.
I will keep you updated on the developments in this research.
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Source:
Psych Central: Exercise Reduces Anger
