Stress-Response and metabolic systems in children living in military and first responder families: Potential targets for individualising exercise treatment of anxiety?

Dysregulation of stress-response and metabolic systems are a hallmark of mental illness that may begin in childhood. This study will provide an integrated understanding of childhood anxiety by investigating the responses of these systems to an acute exercise bout before and after a five-week exercise intervention in children (5-9 years) living in military or first responder families. The study aims to develop a screening tool for investigating possible dysregulated biological mechanisms associated with anxiety and investigate the effects of an individualised five-week exercise intervention to improve these mechanisms and assist in the treatment of youth anxiety in military and first-responder families.