Relationship between perceived mental health and physical activity levels: observational study in 63 subjects with intellectual disability

Purpose: People with intellectual disabilities have a greater risk of developing anxious-depressive syndromes than the regular practice of physical activity results, in the general population, in a behavior able to prevent and control the symptoms of these pathologies. This study aims to investigate the relationship between the amount of physical exercise performed and the level of mental health perceived in people with intellectual disabilities. Methods: This observational study was carried out through the administration of questionnaires in paper or electronic form at national sports federations, cooperatives, and associations in charge of subjects with intellectual disabilities. The study subjects were evaluated through medical history questionnaire, Self-assessment scale of anxiety and depression according to Zung (SAS/ SDS)2 and IPAQSFquestionnaire for the detection of physical activity levels. Results: Of the 63 participants in the study (Aged 36 ± 13), 36% had mild intellectual disability, 56% moderate and 6% severe. Weak and not statistically significant correlation between amount of physical activity and perceived anxiety level was observed (r = 0.23; p[0.05). Weak but statistically significant correlation was observed between the amount of physical activity performed and the level of perceived depression (r = 0.30; p = 0.01). For further analysis the subjects were then divided into tertiles based on the amount of physical activity carried out expressed as MET/week (First tertile 0-999 MET, second tertile 1000-2999 MET, third tertile 3000 ? MET). A statistically significant difference in perceived anxiety levels was observed between first and third tertile (p = 0.03), and in perceived depression levels between first and third tertile (p = 0.03). Conclusions: The relationship between the amount of physical activity performed and the level of perceived mental health remains unclear, probably due to the sample being too small and heterogeneous. However, it was possible to observe how the tertile composed by the most active subjects ([3000 MET) reported levels of anxiety and depression which were significantly lower than the tertile composed by the least active (0–999 MET). It is therefore likely to believe that people with intellectual disabilities can benefit from participation in sport and physical activity reducing depressive and anxiety symptoms.