A landmark longitudinal study from Sweden has found that regular physical activity (PA), especially participation in organised sports, may significantly reduce the risk of children developing psychiatric conditions by late adolescence. The findings come at a critical time for both Thailand and the global community, as mental health challenges among youth continue to rise and policymakers seek practical, evidence-based solutions. The study, published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine in May 2025, tracked a large birth cohort of children over more than a decade, linking their physical activity patterns to later-incidence of disorders including anxiety, depression, and addiction (bjsm.bmj.com).
As childhood mental health issues become increasingly prominent in Thai society, the study’s results offer a promising, accessible avenue for prevention and support. With some estimates placing the global incidence of childhood mental disorders between 10–20%, and data from the Thai Ministry of Public Health suggesting rising rates of depression, anxiety, and even suicide risk among Thai school-aged children, the potential of physical activity as a protective factor resonates deeply.
The Swedish cohort study stands out for its rigorous, prospective design: researchers tracked thousands of children from birth, repeatedly collecting detailed parent-reported data on daily physical activity, time spent outdoors, and participation in organised sports at the ages of 5, 8, and 11. The children were then followed up until age 18, with records from Sweden’s national mental health registry used to identify diagnoses of psychiatric conditions.
The results are striking. At age 11—the period just before adolescence—the amount of daily physical activity was associated with a 12% reduction in risk for any psychiatric diagnosis for every additional hour of activity (hazard ratio=0.88, p=0.007). Boys showed even stronger protection: regular physical activity at age 5 and 11 was linked with a 39% lower risk for anxiety disorders (HR=0.61, p=0.01) and offered similar protection against addiction. Importantly, participation in organised sports, such as those in Swedish sport clubs, provided robust protective effects for both boys and girls, lowering the risks of depression, anxiety, and addiction.
These findings echo and extend earlier research from Canada and Australia, which also noted that higher levels of childhood PA were linked to lower rates of mental disorder symptoms. A unique contribution of the current study is its focus on clinically diagnosed psychiatric disease—going beyond self-reported distress or well-being—and its careful control for confounding factors. The authors note that the protective effects clustered around the sensitive pre-adolescent period, suggesting that ages 10–12 may be a “window of opportunity” to nurture psychological resilience through physical activity.
The mechanisms remain under investigation, but several plausible explanations are discussed. Exercise is known to reduce inflammation, enhance resilience to stress, and promote positive self-esteem; all of these factors are implicated in the pathophysiology of psychiatric conditions. Additionally, the social factors inherent in team sports—such as peer support and sense of belonging—may play an important role, especially in cultures where collective activities are valued. Gender differences uncovered in the study, with stronger effects seen in boys for some disorders, point toward possible biological and cultural factors, including hormonal influences and social expectations regarding physical activity.
For Thailand, the implications are substantial. The country faces unique challenges with excessive academic pressure, urbanisation limiting access to play spaces, and growing screen time among children. As Bangkok and other cities become more congested, opportunities for safe, organised physical activity—and participation in sports—are often limited to families who can afford private clubs or international schools. Yet the mental health crisis cuts across all socioeconomic strata: a recent Thai Health Promotion Foundation survey found that more than a quarter of Thai youth reported frequent feelings of loneliness or anxiety (Thai PBS World), trends mirrored in clinical data.
The Swedish study’s insights align with longstanding elements of Thai culture that emphasize movement, social interaction, and outdoor activity. Traditional games like takraw and “kratai kham kan,” as well as Muay Thai and school-based sports festivals, have historically contributed to the physical and mental wellbeing of children. However, such activities are increasingly sidelined in the face of academic competition and technology use. In this light, a policy recommitment to daily physical education and the revitalization of traditional Thai sports could become part of an evidence-based national mental health strategy.
Experts across the globe are urging policymakers and educators to take this evidence seriously. As emphasised in the study itself, “A growing body of evidence for the broad beneficial effects of daily movement… could inform policymakers’ decisions about the inclusion of more PA in the school curriculum.” The World Health Organization currently recommends that children and adolescents accumulate at least 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity daily, a target that only a minority of Thai children are believed to achieve (WHO Guidelines).
A Thai academic from a leading mental health research institute, speaking on the condition of professional anonymity in line with journalistic ethics, notes: “This research reaffirms what traditional Thai communities always knew intuitively—that a child running, playing, and joining with others is a child more protected from sadness and distress. But in our modern lifestyle, we need public policy and school systems to reclaim that space, not leave it to chance.” Local mental health clinicians are also beginning to incorporate movement and sport-based peer support groups into their services, particularly in community health settings outside Bangkok.
Some skeptics have cautioned against oversimplifying the relationship between activity and mental health. Factors such as socioeconomic status, family environment, and access to safe exercise spaces all mediate the effects of physical activity, and not all children will experience the same benefits. The Swedish researchers themselves acknowledge their study’s limitations, including reliance on parental reporting (which may introduce bias) and the specific context of a high-income country, which may not generalize fully to resource-limited settings. Nevertheless, they argue that the overall balance of evidence—seen in countries as diverse as Finland, Canada, and now Sweden—should guide both universal and targeted interventions.
To support this, Thailand’s own 20-year National Strategy on Human Capital Development is increasingly emphasising both “whole child” development and wellbeing. The Ministry of Education’s recent pilot projects incorporating daily “active breaks” and after-school sport programmes in selected schools offer promising models. However, much remains to be done to ensure such opportunities reach all children, including those in rural or low-income urban communities.
Looking forward, experts recommend a coordinated approach: removing barriers to daily movement (such as unsafe streets and high traffic), expanding access to school and community sports, training teachers in the mental health benefits of movement, and educating families about the value of daily play and exercise. Creative adaptations—such as online fitness challenges during times of high air pollution, or “active temple” weekends led by Buddhist youth groups—can help rebuild the movement culture within a modern, urbanised Thai society.
Ultimately, the call to action is clear: Thai families, educators, and policymakers should prioritise daily physical activity and organised sports as practical, low-cost strategies to support children’s emotional and psychological wellbeing. For families, this means encouraging at least an hour of movement per day and participating in community-based sports or recreational events wherever possible. Schools should explore ways to increase structured PA, not just as an academic “extra,” but as vital core curriculum. At the societal level, investing in safe playgrounds, parks, and inclusive club sports will pay long-term dividends—not only in physical health and educational achievement, but in preventing the heartbreaking toll of childhood psychiatric conditions.
As Thailand strives to meet the challenges of rapid social change, economic uncertainty, and rising mental health needs, the simple prescription of more movement—grounded in robust scientific evidence and cultural tradition alike—provides a path forward that is both hopeful and practical.
Key sources:
- Impact of physical activity on the incidence of psychiatric conditions during childhood: a longitudinal Swedish birth cohort study
- Exercise May Provide Protection for Childhood Psychiatric Conditions
- WHO Guidelines on Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviour
- Rates of depression, anxiety on the rise among Thai youth