i Abstract This assignment is comprised of a Journal Article Review (JAR) related to the topic chosen for the Final Project: The effects of exercise on depression in overweight children. This article, Exercise effects on depressive symptoms and self-worth in overweight children: A randomized controlled trial, employs am experimental correlational design and is relevant to the topic of the final project because it measures the effects of two different time domains of exercise on depressive symptoms in overweight children. 1 Indicate the Quantitative journal article selected Petty, K. H., Davis, C. L., Tkacz, J., Young-Hyman, D., & Waller, J. L. (2009). Exercise effects on depressive symptoms and self-worth in overweight children: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 34 (9), 929-939. Statement of Problem The researchers are trying to assess the dose response of 20 minutes or 40 minutes of exercise on depressive symptoms of overweight children. Literature Review The prevalence of childhood obesity has increased a great deal over the last few decades and is correlated with low self-esteem and depression (Petty et al., 2009). Depressive symptoms have been demonstrated to be reduced by exercise in adults across multiple studies (Blumenthal et al., 2007; Lawlor & Hopker, 2001) and in children (Annesi, 2005; Calfas & Taylor, 1994). Method Participants Participants were sedentary, healthy black or white children between the ages of seven and eleven years old, whom were in top 15th percentile of body mass index. They were recruited via flyers and presentations at schools in Georgia. Materials The Reynolds Child Depression Scale (RCDS) and Self Perception Profile for Children (SPPC) used to measure depressive symptoms and self-worth. Procedure . Pre and post study the RCDS and SPPC were used to measure depressive symptoms and feelings of self-worth. Exercise consisted of activities the kids would enjoy rather than 2 completion or enhancement of skills with an average heart rate of 165-166 for the exercise groups. This was done for 13 weeks before being tested again after school in the research gymnasium. Statistics The study is of a between subjects, single factor design. Data was analyzed using a linear contrast and post hoc pairwise comparisons. This was done to test the dose response effect. ANCOVA Results Depressive symptoms decreased and self-worth increased with more exercise when compared to the control group, with the 40-minute group noting a larger decrease than the 20minute group. Depressive symptoms and self-worth correlated significantly Implications Implications for Counselors, Clients, and Counselling The implications of the findings for the field of psychotherapy is exercise can be a useful intervention for children suffering from depression and low self-worth, “increasing amounts of training result in increased benefits, demonstrating a cause-effect relationship” (Petty et al., 2009, p. 935) Studies before have only looked at exercise when compared to no exercise and didn’t assess the difference in dosage’s, this study shows while 20 minutes will result in a more positive outcome, 40 minutes will continue those effects and they do not plateau, there is a notable difference. Discussion Summary 3 The hypothesis that an aerobic exercise program would result in an increase of self-worth and a decrease of depressive symptoms in overweight sedentary children was supported. For Further Study An unexpected finding was that global self-worth did not increase in Blacks. The study calls for additional research regarding psychosocial views on obesity in regards to race. 4 References [alphabetical order] Surname, Initial., Surname, Initial., & Surname, Initial. (Year). Title of journal article with no caps. Title of Journal, Volume number (issue number), page numbers. Surname, Initial. (Year). Book title: No caps except after colon or if the capitalization is for proper nouns like names of assessment tools. City, State or Province written as 2 letter abbreviation, such as ON: Publisher Name. Petty, K. H., Davis, C. L., Tkacz, J., Young-Hyman, D., & Waller, J. L. (2009). Exercise effects on depressive symptoms and self-worth in overweight children: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 34 (9), 929-939.
