The Effects of Mental Health Conditions and Sex on Standing Balance in Undergraduate Students

Abstract

Abstract   Purpose: Balance is important to human functioning and is required to carry out daily tasks. Studies have shown that females have better balance than males. Mental health conditions are prevalent in undergraduate students, and we are unsure of their impact on balance. The purpose of this study was to investigate if sex or a mental health condition (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), generalized anxiety disorder, depression, or a combination of these conditions) are associated with changes in single-leg balance performance in undergraduate university students. Additionally, a secondary purpose was to investigate the relationship between weekly physical activity and balance performance.   Method: Sixty-nine (36 female, and 33 male) undergraduate students at Western University participated in this study. Participants completed three standardized assessment questionnaires to identify individuals with scores consistent with ADHD, anxiety, and depression. Individuals with more than one of these conditions formed the multiple condition group. The control group consisted of individuals that did not show scores that were consistent with a mental health condition. A Leisure Time Exercise Questionnaire was completed to quantify weekly physical activity, and a personal activity score was calculated for each participant. Finally, three 20-second single-leg standing balance trials were performed on a force plate, and balance performance was quantified using the path length. A two-way ANOVA assessed the relationship between sex and mental health conditions on standing balance. Results: There was no statistically significant interaction between sex and mental health conditions (P=0.15). However, path length in the multiple condition group was significantly higher than the control group (P < 0.05). In terms of activity scores and balance, there were no apparent trends between males and females nor between the different mental health groups. Conclusion: Our results indicate that sex was not associated with significant differences in balance performance, and that students with multiple mental health conditions had significantly worse single-leg balance performance than controls. Additionally, weekly physical activity was not associated with better balance performance. These results could be valuable for  clinicians when diagnosing balance related conditions, such as concussions.   Key Terms: Mental health, balance, single-leg, physical activity