[SoDu Reading Room] Could Increased Physical Activity Mean Mentally Healthier Durham Kids?

North Carolina students’ mental health is improving as they become more physically active, according to the results of the 2023 NC Youth Risk Behavior Surveys (YRBS) presented to the State Board of Education.

After nearly a decade of declining physical activity and mental health metrics, the new data shows positive trends in both categories.

The percentage of high school students who reported feeling sad or hopeless dropped to 39% in 2023, down from 43% in 2021. For middle school students, this percentage decreased from 35 to 32% during the same period. Additionally, the percentage of high school students who seriously considered suicide dropped from 22% in 2021 to 18% in 2023.

Physical activity among students also increased. Forty-two percent of high school students reported being physically active for at least 60 minutes on five or more days a week, up from 34% in 2021. Among middle school students, this percentage rose from 44 to 52%.

The surveys are conducted on odd-numbered years with anonymous participation. Parents may opt their child out of the survey. This year, for the first time, questions about social media were included, reflecting its growing role in students’ lives. More than 80% of high schoolers use social media several times a day, with about half of them using it at least once an hour. Middle school usage is slightly lower at 63%.

The use of vape products, marijuana, and alcohol has declined among high school students, while cigarette smoking remains at an all-time low of 4%.

The 2023 data shows a marked improvement from the 2021 surveys, the first conducted after the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It is so encouraging to see that students are not only recovering from the effects of the pandemic but in many cases doing better than they were in 2019 and before,” said Deputy State Superintendent Michael Maher.

Ellen Essick, section chief for NC Healthy Schools, highlighted the well-documented positive effect of exercise on mental health. The State Board of Education is considering an amendment to the Healthy Active Children Policy to encourage high schools to offer students 60 minutes per week of physical activity.

“We’ve heard over and over from school leaders that student mental health is a top priority for them, and it’s a top priority for us at NCDPI, too,” Essick said in a news release. “Students can’t reach their full potential in the classroom if they are not mentally and physically well. Giving them more access to exercise during the school day should ultimately result in better academic outcomes.”

The board will vote on the policy amendment in July.

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