Can Sprint Interval Training (SIT) Improve the Psychological and Physiological Health of Adolescents with SMI?

This study examined whether a structured cycle-based SIT intervention could improve psychological (symptom severity) and physiological (aerobic/anaerobic performance) health outcomes in adolescents with serious mental illness. Participants were 30 age-matched adolescents (M = 16.00 ± 1.17 years) from Australia who completed an 8-week bicycle-based sprint interval training (SIT) program (3 days/week) or were recruited to a comparison group alongside normative care. SIT sessions consisted of 4 × 30-s maximum-effort intervals split by 4-min recovery. Primary measures examined pre–post were Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), World Health Organization–5 Questionnaire (WHO-5), and aerobic/anaerobic performance. Secondary outcomes were also considered (e.g., weight). Between-within analysis of variance’s identified Group × Time interaction effects with moderate-to-strong effects sizes for psychological well-being (WHO-5 intervention group – Mchange = + 13.06, Benjamini–Hochberg statistical procedure [BH] confirmed p = .01, n2 = 0.24) and physiological indices (aerobic performance – est.VO2max – intervention group – Mchange = + 5.79 ml.kg−1.min−1, BH p = .03, n2 = 0.18; anaerobic performance – intervention group Mchange = + 49.93 watts, BH p < .01, n2 = 0.48). A significant three-way Group × Sex × Time (p = .02, n2 = 0.18) and Group × Time effects was apparent for Total PANSS (Mchange SIT = −10.80 points, BH p = .03, n2 = 0.17). Significant Group × Time interactions in secondary anthropometrics were also apparent (e.g., intervention group – Mchange weight = −0.73kg, BH p < .01, n2 = 0.25). Findings identified that an 8-week SIT intervention improved key physiological and psychological health indices. Findings suggest that SIT can help protect and potentially improve multiple health indices in adolescents affected by serious mental illness.

© 2019 Society of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology