A recent study conducted by researchers at Loma Linda University highlights the positive influence of in-school cycling programs on the mental well-being of middle school students. The study, involving over 1,200 middle schoolers, found that participation in such programs was associated with improved psychosocial well-being among adolescents.
Mental health concerns among teenagers are growing, with a rising prevalence of mental health disorders in school children. In the United States, 1 in 6 school-aged children is diagnosed with a form of mental disorder, emphasizing the importance of exploring effective ways to support their mental health.
The study assessed the impact of in-school cycling programs on the psychosocial well-being of middle school students. Outride, a not-for-profit organization, collaborates with schools, including Curtis Middle School and Cesar Chavez Middle School in San Bernardino, to provide cycling programs through its “Riding for Focus (R4F)” initiative. This program equips students with cycling knowledge, introduces them to physical activity, and enhances their mental well-being.
Middle school students aged 11–14 participated in the program and completed pre- and post-program surveys to measure their mental well-being and psychological functioning. The results of the study were promising, revealing that participating in the cycling program during the COVID-19 pandemic was associated with improved psychosocial well-being among the students.
Fletcher Dementyev, the first author of the study and an undergraduate research fellow at Loma Linda University Health – Center for Health Disparities and Molecular Medicine, expressed enthusiasm about the positive response of students to the cycling-specific physical education program. He believes that these findings will motivate further research and development of cycling as a pathway to enhance the health and well-being of adolescents.
The study also emphasized the influence of broader social factors on the well-being of teenagers, both before and after program participation. The senior author of the study, Sean Wilson, PhD, and professor of basic sciences at Loma Linda University School of Medicine, noted, “We focused on a number of key risk factors that affect mental health and well-being in middle school-aged children in the U.S., including socioeconomic status, gender, and race.”
The study authors acknowledge certain limitations, such as the study’s population being different from the national student population. However, they consider this study as the initial step in a national dialogue regarding investment in cycling education and its potential benefits for youth mental health.
