Healthy Lifestyle Behaviours and Mental Health in Children and Adolescents

Submission Deadline: 01 March 2025 View: 468 Submit to Special Issue

Guest Editors

Muros José Joaquín, Department of Didactics of Corporal Expression, University of Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain

Villodres Gracia Cristina, Department of Didactics of Corporal Expression, University of Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain

Summary

Any early stage before adulthood is key for the acquisition of behaviours that are likely to endure into adulthood. It is therefore not surprising that engagement in healthy eating, an active lifestyle, and spending fewer hours in front of the screen are some of the most important habits to be acquired by children for them to develop into healthy adults. Healthy eating habits and an active lifestyle have been demonstrated to have a positive influence on preventing chronic diseases and improving mental health in children and adolescents. On the other hand, the academic world has been scandalized due to the general decline in PISA scores. Academics claim that the increase in hours spent in front of screens and the use of social networks has negatively affected the physical, mental, and cognitive health of children and adolescents. Social networks offer images and messages that promote the thinness ideal in women and the muscularity ideal in men, which has caused this population to worry about their bodies conforming to these idealized and unrealistic physical standards. Consequently, this has led to the inspiration to physical activity engagement and follow diets with a motivation oriented to appearance (rather than health), triggering emotional problems (i.e., body dissatisfaction, low self-esteem, and high body shame), cognitive problems (i.e., high body vigilance) and behavioural problems (i.e., unhealthy eating behaviours or eating disorders).

Thus, the goal of this Special Issue in the International Journal of Mental Health Promotion is to increase scientific evidence in the study of healthy lifestyle behaviours and mental health in children and adolescents. We welcome reviews and original research which consider novel approaches and identify gaps in knowledge. We also encourage submissions that explore how following healthy habits can impact physical and mental health during these stages.

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Published Papers