The link between physical activity, mental health, and substance use

Parents and school staff play an important role in supporting and facilitating physical activity for young people. Regular exercise and participating in sport have a range of physical and mental health benefits for young people. These include a range of protective factors that can reduce alcohol and other drug use, and related harms.

Some of the benefits of regular physical activity are:

• A decreased risk of sadness, low self-esteem, and depressive and anxiety symptoms among teenagers.
• A decreased risk of psychological distress.
• Being more likely to have good quality sleep, and feel less tired.
• Being more likely to have a healthy diet and less likely to smoke.
• Positive impacts on academic results.
• Taking part in team sport is linked to improved self-esteem and social skills, and reduced social anxiety and isolation.

Research has also found that the mental health benefits of taking part in school sport continue into early adulthood. Mental illness and alcohol and other drug use can often occur together. Learn more about the link between mental illness and alcohol/drug use here.

To learn more about the benefits of physical activity, visit the Australian Sports Commission's Clearinghouse for Sport.

Australian physical activity guidelines recommend that children and young people (aged 5-17) do at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity each day. Physical activity can include school-based physical education (PE) classes, organised out-of-school sports (e.g. football, dancing, basketball), informal social games, or solo exercise. The guidelines also advise that children and young people do muscle strengthening activities a few times a week. Examples of muscle strengthening activities include running, climbing, or lifting weights. Physical activity can take many forms, and finding an enjoyable activity can help with motivation and participation.

Many young people do not meet these physical activity guidelines. In fact, a 2021 study found that 78% of Australian students aged 11-14 years were not meeting the recommended 60 minutes of physical activity a day.

In 2024 less than half of young people took part in organised sport outside of school. For children aged 0-14 years, 36% participated in organised sport at least once a week. For 15-17 year olds, 48% participated in organised sport at least once a week.

Teenagers between the ages of 15 and 19 years old tend to cut back the amount of physical activity they do. This can be because they stop doing PE classes at school and have competing demands outside of school hours, such as study and employment. Sleep and diet quality also tends to decline in this age group. However, this age can also be when mental health disorders emerge. Given the benefits exercise can have on mental health, it is important to try and continue supporting physical activity among later adolescents.

There are many reasons why young people may not meet the physical activity guidelines. These include a lack of interest or confidence, competing demands, and costs. Below are some tips for parents and families to encourage physical activity among young people.

• Support your child to find a physical activity that they enjoy. People are more likely to continue something if they find it meaningful and enjoyable.
• Parental support such as encouragement and getting involved has been linked to increased physical activity among young people. 
• Parental modelling is also effective. Things like walking daily, taking gym classes, or playing sport are great ways to lead by example.
• Doing physical activity as a family can be a great way to find something your child enjoys. This could include walking the dog or swimming at the beach.
• Most State and Territory Governments offer vouchers to help with the costs of participating in sports. See the below links for more information:
  • New South Wales
  • Northern Territory
  • Queensland
  • South Australia
  • Tasmania
  • Victoria
  • Western Australia
• The Australian Sports Commission have a range of resources for parents and guardians available through the ‘Sporting Schools’ initiative.
• Read our factsheet on the link between lifestyle risk factors such as exercise, alcohol use and poor diet.
• Watch our webinar on parenting strategies to promote health and address lifestyle risk factors among teenagers.

While there are many benefits from physical activity, there are also some possible harms to be aware of.

Normalisation of alcohol use

Alcohol use is common at community sports clubs’ social events. For young people, this can normalise alcohol use and promote a harmful drinking culture (read more about the unintended normalisation of alcohol). The Alcohol and Drug Foundation (ADF) run the Good Sports program to help address these harms. Good Sports is a free program that helps community sports clubs develop policies and increase knowledge to help prevent alcohol and other drug related harms. The program also aims to limit children’s exposure to alcohol use in sport. Visit the Good Sports website to learn more.

Performance and image enhancing drugs (PIEDs)

PIEDs are substances that are used to try to enhance a person’s appearance or physical abilities, such as steroids. There are a range of physical and psychological effects of PIEDs, including heart problems, sleeplessness, and increased aggression. Young people who participate in more sport are more likely to use PIEDs. However, rates of use remain low. According to the 2022-2023 Australian secondary schools’ survey, 1 in 50 young people (2%) aged 12-17 used performance or image-enhancing drugs in the past year. The 2022-2023 National Drug Strategy Household survey reported that less than 0.2% of people aged 14 and older used steroids in the past year. Positive Choices has a range of resources on PEIDs available here.

This factsheet was developed following expert review by researchers at the Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use at the University of Sydney. A full list of sources that informed this factsheet can be seen below.