A recent study underscores the importance of physical activity for adolescent mental health amid a troubling trend in teenage well-being in the U.S. In 2025, 33% of U.S. high schoolers reported experiencing persistent feelings of hopelessness or sadness. Additionally, 23% reported poor mental health, and 14% indicated they had seriously considered suicide.
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The crisis is attributed to various factors, including loneliness, social media use, bullying, heightened academic expectations, and global uncertainties. While there is no single solution to this issue, research from King’s College London’s Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience in collaboration with the University of Massachusetts Amherst found a direct correlation between daily step count and mental health.
The study indicates that teens should aim for a specific number of steps daily to improve their mental well-being. It showed that adolescents who took 5,000 steps or fewer daily faced the most mental health challenges. In contrast, those who achieved 8,000 steps reported significant reductions in anxiety and mood-related symptoms. Teens who walked 12,000 or more steps experienced the best emotional resilience and the fewest mental health complaints.
Dr. Divyangana Rakesh, a Senior Lecturer in Neuroscience and Psychology at King’s College London, noted, "This study gives us some of the clearest evidence yet that everyday, low-cost, accessible measures of physical activity like daily step counts are connected to how adolescent brains and mental health develop. It’s striking that we don’t see the benefits plateauing, even among the most active participants."
Over the course of the study, participants aged 11 to 12 wore research-grade Fitbits for three weeks, and their mental health was assessed a year later in relation to their step counts. Findings revealed that any increase in daily steps was associated with better mental health outcomes.
Dr. Amanda Paluch, an Associate Professor of Kinesiology at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, emphasized that adolescents do not need to become elite athletes to reap these benefits. Even an increase of 1,000 to 2,000 steps daily can improve both brain structure and mental health outcomes, with positive effects accumulating over time.
To help teenagers incorporate more steps into their daily routines, several suggestions include walking to school, taking after-dinner family walks, joining a sports team, or participating in walking tours. Engaging in these activities can contribute to better mental health for adolescents.