Sports activities and mental distress in young people in deprived urban areas in South America: a cross-sectional analysis

Abstract Objective To explore the association between sport activities and depression/anxiety symptoms among young people in disadvantaged urban areas of South America. Results Out of a total of 2375 participants, 1131 (47.1%) had engaged in sports in the previous month. Sports activities, particularly those performed with others, were associated with lower anxiety and depression. There was a trend for this association to be stronger in male than in female participants.