Researchers tested whether combining exercise with counseling could help children who feel anxious or depressed and have high blood pressure. They worked with 39 children aged 8-15 in China, giving half of them a week-long program that mixed physical activity with psychological support. The children who got the combined program showed much bigger improvements in anxiety and depression symptoms compared to those who didn’t receive the program. Their blood pressure and weight also improved. This suggests that mixing exercise with mental health support might be a powerful way to help kids feel better emotionally and physically.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: Does combining exercise with psychological counseling help children with anxiety, depression, and high blood pressure feel and measure better?
  • Who participated: 39 children between ages 8-15 from a middle school in western China. About half (18) got the special program, and half (21) were the comparison group. These were children who didn’t have easy access to mental health care.
  • Key finding: Children who did the combined exercise and psychology program had anxiety scores drop by about 11.5 points, while the comparison group only dropped by 5 points. This difference was statistically significant, meaning it wasn’t due to chance. Blood pressure and weight also improved more in the program group.
  • What it means for you: If your child struggles with worry or sadness and has high blood pressure, a program combining physical activity with emotional support might help more than either approach alone. However, this was a small study, so talk with your doctor before starting any new program.

The Research Details

This was a randomized controlled trial, which is considered one of the strongest ways to test if something actually works. Researchers randomly divided 39 children into two groups: one group received a special 7-day program combining exercise activities with psychological support (like counseling or stress-management techniques), while the other group continued with their normal routine. Before and after the program, all children had their blood pressure measured, weight checked, and completed questionnaires about how anxious or depressed they felt and how good their quality of life was. By comparing the two groups, researchers could see if the combined program made a real difference.

Testing both exercise and psychology together is important because many kids with anxiety and depression also have high blood pressure, but we didn’t know if treating both at the same time would work better than treating them separately. This study design (randomized controlled trial) helps prove cause-and-effect rather than just showing that two things happen together. The fact that researchers randomly assigned kids to groups helps make sure the groups were similar at the start.

This study has some strengths: it used a randomized design and measured important health markers like blood pressure and weight. However, there are limitations to consider: the sample size was small (only 39 children), the program lasted just 7 days, and we don’t know if benefits lasted after the program ended. The study was done in one location in China, so results might differ in other places or cultures. There’s no information about whether the children continued the program or if effects wore off over time.

What the Results Show

The anxiety scores improved significantly more in the intervention group compared to the control group. Children in the program group had their anxiety scores decrease by an average of 11.47 points (with some variation of about 7.99 points between children), while the control group’s anxiety scores only decreased by 5 points (with more variation of about 10.22 points). This difference was statistically significant, meaning it’s very unlikely to have happened by chance. The program group also showed improvements in depression symptoms, though the exact numbers weren’t clearly reported. Blood pressure measurements decreased in the intervention group with statistically significant differences compared to the control group. Body weight and BMI (a measure of body size) also improved more in the children who received the program.

Children in the intervention group reported better quality of life after the program. The combined approach appeared to address multiple health problems at once—emotional wellbeing, blood pressure, and weight—rather than just focusing on one issue. This suggests that treating the whole child (mind and body together) might be more effective than treating problems separately.

Previous research has shown that exercise alone can help with anxiety and depression in children, and that psychological support alone can also help. This study suggests that combining both approaches together might work better than either one alone. However, most previous studies looked at these treatments separately, so this research adds new information about what happens when you combine them. The findings align with growing evidence that mental health and physical health are connected.

The study was small with only 39 children, which means results might not apply to all children everywhere. The intervention lasted only 7 days, so we don’t know if children kept improving after the program ended or if the benefits faded over time. The study didn’t track children for weeks or months afterward. All children were from one school in western China, so results might be different in other countries or communities with different cultures and healthcare systems. The study didn’t provide detailed information about what exactly the psychological part of the program included, making it hard to know which specific techniques helped. There’s no information about whether children continued exercising or using psychological strategies after the week ended.

The Bottom Line

Based on this research, combining regular physical activity with psychological support (like counseling or stress-management classes) appears to be helpful for children struggling with anxiety, depression, and high blood pressure. However, confidence in these recommendations is moderate because the study was small and short-term. Talk with your child’s doctor or a mental health professional before starting any new program. They can help create a plan that works for your child’s specific situation.

This research is most relevant for parents and teachers of children aged 8-15 who show signs of anxiety or depression, especially if they also have high blood pressure. School administrators and health officials in areas with limited mental health resources might find this helpful for planning programs. Children in rural or underserved areas may benefit most since they often have fewer mental health services available. However, children with severe mental health conditions or medical problems should work with healthcare professionals rather than relying only on this type of program.

This study only looked at changes over 7 days, so we don’t know how long benefits last. Children might need ongoing participation in exercise and psychological activities to maintain improvements. Realistic expectations would be to see some improvements in mood and anxiety within a few weeks of starting, but the best results likely come from continuing these activities over months. Talk with your doctor about what timeline makes sense for your child.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track your child’s anxiety and mood using a simple daily scale (1-10) along with recording physical activity minutes and noting any blood pressure checks. This creates a clear picture of how exercise and emotional support affect overall wellbeing over time.
  • Use the app to schedule regular exercise sessions (like walking, sports, or dancing) combined with scheduled ‘calm time’ activities (like deep breathing, journaling, or talking about feelings). Set reminders for both activities to help your child build these healthy habits together rather than separately.
  • Check in weekly on your child’s anxiety and mood scores, exercise consistency, and any blood pressure measurements. Look for patterns—do mood and anxiety improve on weeks with more physical activity and emotional check-ins? Use this data to adjust the program and celebrate improvements with your child.

This research suggests that combining exercise with psychological support may help children with anxiety, depression, and high blood pressure, but it is not a substitute for professional medical care. If your child shows signs of anxiety, depression, or has high blood pressure, please consult with a pediatrician, mental health professional, or other qualified healthcare provider before starting any new program. This study was small and short-term, so individual results may vary. Children with severe mental health conditions or medical complications need professional evaluation and treatment. Always work with qualified healthcare professionals to create a safe, appropriate plan for your child’s specific needs.