Physical Activity and Mental Health in Adolescents With Cardiac Arrhythmias, Cardiomyopathy, or Single Ventricle Heart Disease.

Creator(s)

• Olivia J. Olson
• Matthew Garver
• Emily Cramer, Children's Mercy Kansas CityFollow
• Jami Gross-Toalson, Children's Mercy HospitalFollow
• Kelli M. Teson, Children's Mercy HospitalFollow
• Lindsey Malloy-Walton, Children's Mercy HospitalFollow
• Jessica S. Watson, Children's Mercy Kansas CityFollow
• Mollie Walton, Children's Mercy Kansas CityFollow
• Laura Martis, Children's Mercy Kansas CityFollow
• Dara Watkins, Children's Mercy HospitalFollow
• Brandy Enneking, Children's Mercy Kansas CityFollow
• William R. Black
• David A. White, Children's Mercy Kansas CityFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

8-2026

Identifier

DOI: 10.1123/pes.2024-0066

Abstract

PURPOSE: To explore the relationship between PA and MH and QoL in adolescents with cardiac arrhythmia disorders, cardiomyopathies, or single ventricle heart disease.

METHODS: Participants completed surveys/questionnaires regarding PA (Physical Activity Questionnaire for Adolescents), anxiety (Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System [PROMIS]-Anxiety), depressive symptoms (PROMIS-Depressive Symptoms), global QoL (Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory [PedsQL]-generic), and cardiac disease-specific QoL (PedsQL-cardiac). Pearson correlations and regression analysis examined relationships between PA and MH/QoL.

RESULTS: The study included 63 participants (males = 32, 50.7%), with an age of 15.46 (1.82) years. The sample was mostly inactive (Physical Activity Questionnaire for Adolescents score: 1.95 [0.65]). Outcomes used T-scores for PROMIS-Anxiety (49.7 [12.2]) and PROMIS-Depressive Symptoms (46.9 [12.7]), and summary scores for PedsQL-generic (75.2 [18.9]) and PedsQL-cardiac (74.7 [17.5]). There was a negative correlation between PA and MH (PROMIS-Anxiety: r = -.338, PROMIS-Depressive Symptoms: r = -.337; P < .05) and positive correlation between PA and QoL (PedsQL-generic: r = .37, PedsQL-cardiac: r = .39; P < .001). Adjusting for key variables using regression analysis, greater participation in PA was independently related to decreased anxiety and depression and greater QoL.

CONCLUSIONS: Greater PA engagement was associated with more favorable MH and QoL in adolescents with cardiac arrhythmia disorders, cardiomyopathy, or single ventricle heart disease.

Journal Title

Pediatr Exerc Sci

Volume

38

Issue

3

First Page

299

Last Page

307

MeSH Keywords

Humans; Adolescent; Female; Quality of Life; Male; Arrhythmias, Cardiac; Mental Health; Depression; Anxiety; Exercise; Surveys and Questionnaires; Cardiomyopathies

PubMed ID

41344317

Keywords

Fontan; anxiety; children; depression; pediatric arrhythmia; quality of life

Recommended Citation

Olson OJ, Garver M, Cramer E, et al. Physical Activity and Mental Health in Adolescents With Cardiac Arrhythmias, Cardiomyopathy, or Single Ventricle Heart Disease. Pediatric Exercise Science. 2026;38(3):299-307. doi:10.1123/pes.2024-0066