Teaching middle schoolers bike riding skills as part of physical education classes may help improve their mental health. That’s according to a new study that looked at the effects of a 6-8 week cycling class taught in schools across the U.S.
“We saw that there were mental health benefits across the entire population,” says Sean Wilson, a researcher at Loma Linda University School of Medicine and the study’s senior author. “The main thing would be more of a positive outlook on life,” he adds.
The mental health benefits of exercise are well-documented. And anyone who’s lived through middle school knows those years can be particularly challenging. The new study comes at a time when research shows that youths across the U.S. are struggling with mental health.
