INTRODUCTION: Common mental disorders (CMD) are disorders commonly found in the population. They are a consequence of modern lifestyle. Leisure physical activities can reduce tension and therefore help prevent CMDs. OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence of CMDs among youths who engage and those who do not engage in leisure physical activities in Feira de Santana (BA), Brazil. METHODS: A cross-sectional, epidemiological study was conducted with 3,597 individuals, including 1,400 young people aged 15-29 years, living in the urban area of Feira de Santana. Leisure physical activities were assessed using a structured questionnaire covering the frequency, type, reason and effort involved in each activity. The Self-Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ-20) was used to assess CMDs. RESULTS: The prevalence of CMD was 19.2% among adolescents (15-17 years old), 26.6% among youths (18-24 years), and 27.8% among young adults (25-29 years). In the assessment of leisure activities, 89.9% of the youths reported to regularly engage in some kind of activity; however, engagement in leisure physical activities was observed to reduce with age. A negative association was found between leisure physical activities and CMD (prevalence ratio: 0.59, 95% confidence interval: 0.51-0.67). CONCLUSION: Healthcare programs should include actions that encourage leisure physical activities, in view of the contribution of active behavior toward improving mental health.
Mental disorders; leisure physical activities; ental health
