A study has found that teaching middle school students bike riding skills as part of their physical education classes can have a positive impact on their mental health. The study focused on the effects of a 6-8 week cycling class taught in middle schools across the United States and involved over 1,200 students aged 11 to 14.
The program, called “Ride for Focus,” offered by the nonprofit Outride, aimed to improve the mental well-being of adolescents. It required students to participate in a cycling class for at least three days a week for a minimum of 6 weeks. The students learned cycling safety and maneuvering skills outdoors while also increasing their heart rate and having fun.
The findings showed that there were mental health benefits across the entire student population. These benefits included a more positive outlook on life. Physical activity, such as cycling, has well-documented benefits for mental health, and this study aimed to see if a cycling program could result in measurable changes in well-being for middle school students.
Esther Walker, the senior research program manager for Outride, highlighted the social and physical benefits that bike riding offers, making it an ideal activity for adolescents. She explained that middle school is a crucial time to encourage kids to embrace the benefits of bike riding, as they face various social pressures and stresses.
Exercise, in general, is known to be a cost-effective and evidence-based form of prevention and intervention for mental health issues. Cycling, in particular, offers various benefits for the brain, including sensory perception, balance, and navigation. Group activities and the positive effects of companionship further enhance the mental health benefits of cycling.
Dr. Allan Reiss, a professor of psychiatry and pediatrics at Stanford University School of Medicine, often prescribes exercise to his young patients. He emphasized the importance of finding an activity that adolescents enjoy.
While exercise has significant mental health benefits, it is not a one-size-fits-all solution. Other factors, such as screen time and sleep, also play a role in well-being. The study found that adolescents who exceeded two hours of screen time a day or had less than the recommended 8.5 hours of sleep saw less improvement in their mental well-being.
