Citation

Rubens SL, Fite PJ. Child Indic. Res. 2013; 6(1): 23-32.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2013, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1007/s12187-012-9155-5

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Children living in unsafe neighborhoods are at risk of developing depressive symptoms. Therefore, it is important to examine factors that may buffer this relation in order to inform interventions for children residing in unsafe neighborhoods. This study examined the moderating role of physical activity in the relation between neighborhood safety and child depressive symptoms in a sample of 89 children (N = 50 males) ages 9 to 12 years old (M = 10.44; SD = 1.14). Data on depressive symptoms, physical activity, and neighborhood safety were gathered from caregiver and child reports. A significant interaction was found between physical activity and neighborhood safety, indicating that depressive symptoms were highest for those children who resided in less safe neighborhoods and did not participate in physical activity. Implications for future intervention are discussed.

Language: en