The effect of aerobic activity on depression, loneliness and body image of adolescent girl students in district 8 of Tehran

Many adolescent girls face issues such as depression, loneliness and body image, which sometimes impede the development of normal emotional and psychological development in the form of mental and acute disorders. But the key question is, does aerobic activity affect depression, loneliness, and body image in adolescent girls?

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of aerobic exercise on depression, loneliness and body image in adolescent female students.

This study was a quasi-experimental with pre-test and post-test with control group. The statistical population consisted of eighth grade female high school students in district 8 of Tehran. 70 students were selected by cluster sampling method and were randomly assigned into two experimental and control groups (n= 35). Research tools include Aerobic Activity Session Implementation Protocol (Pour vagar & Bahram, 2014), Depression Questionnaire (Beck, 1963), Di Tomaso & Spinner Adult Short Socio-Emotional Loneliness Questionnaire, and Body Image Concerns Questionnaire. (Halling et al., 2007).

Aerobic exercise had a significant effect on depression and loneliness but had no effect on body image (P<0/001).

Aerobic activity improved depression and loneliness in adolescent girls.