The effects of physical activity on the mental health of typically developing children and adolescents: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Abstract Background Physical activity has gained attention in recent years as a promising intervention for improving the mental health of children and adolescents. However, evidence supporting the effectiveness of physical activity interventions for the mental health of typically developing children...
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2025-04-01
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-22690-8 |
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| author | Quan Fu Longhui Li Qiner Li Jingyi Wang |
| author_facet | Quan Fu Longhui Li Qiner Li Jingyi Wang |
| author_sort | Quan Fu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Physical activity has gained attention in recent years as a promising intervention for improving the mental health of children and adolescents. However, evidence supporting the effectiveness of physical activity interventions for the mental health of typically developing children and adolescents remains limited. Methods This study conducted a comprehensive search across five electronic databases up to July 2024. Studies were eligible for inclusion if they involved an intervention with a control group that examined the effects of physical activity on the mental health of typically developing children and adolescents. Articles focusing on participants with developmental, behavioral, or psychiatric disorders were excluded. A random-effects meta-analysis was conducted using Stata 18.0. The quality of evidence and risk of bias were assessed using the GRADE framework and the PEDro scale. Results The initial search yielded 27,527 articles, of which 30 met the inclusion criteria. Meta-regression analysis indicated that country and intervention frequency were significant sources of heterogeneity. Physical activity interventions were significantly more effective than the control group in improving mental health (SMD = 0.37, 95% CI: 0.20 to 0.53). These interventions showed particularly strong effects on stress reduction (SMD = 0.86, 95% CI: 0.15 to 1.56) and social competence enhancement (SMD = 0.56, 95% CI: 0.07 to 1.06). Moreover, physical activity interventions were notably more effective for male adolescents (SMD = 1.11, 95% CI: 0.34 to 1.88) and those at the secondary school level (SMD = 0.45, 95% CI: 0.23 to 1.69). Conclusions Physical activity is beneficial in improving various aspects of mental health, including anxiety, depression, stress, self-esteem, and social competence in typically developing children and adolescents. However, the quality of evidence in this study is low due to methodological limitations of the studies included in this review. More high-quality randomized controlled trials are needed to validate these findings. Teachers and community workers can leverage physical activity as a preventive strategy to promote the mental health of children and adolescents. Future research should also investigate how factors like socioeconomic status and the sporting environment impact the effectiveness of these interventions. Trial registration PROSPERO, CRD42024567153. |
| format | Article |
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| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
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| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-6fd2dad954e84dff826830bb22a414332025-08-20T02:30:26ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582025-04-0125111810.1186/s12889-025-22690-8The effects of physical activity on the mental health of typically developing children and adolescents: a systematic review and meta-analysisQuan Fu0Longhui Li1Qiner Li2Jingyi Wang3Capital University of Physical Education and SportsCapital University of Physical Education and SportsCapital University of Physical Education and SportsCapital University of Physical Education and SportsAbstract Background Physical activity has gained attention in recent years as a promising intervention for improving the mental health of children and adolescents. However, evidence supporting the effectiveness of physical activity interventions for the mental health of typically developing children and adolescents remains limited. Methods This study conducted a comprehensive search across five electronic databases up to July 2024. Studies were eligible for inclusion if they involved an intervention with a control group that examined the effects of physical activity on the mental health of typically developing children and adolescents. Articles focusing on participants with developmental, behavioral, or psychiatric disorders were excluded. A random-effects meta-analysis was conducted using Stata 18.0. The quality of evidence and risk of bias were assessed using the GRADE framework and the PEDro scale. Results The initial search yielded 27,527 articles, of which 30 met the inclusion criteria. Meta-regression analysis indicated that country and intervention frequency were significant sources of heterogeneity. Physical activity interventions were significantly more effective than the control group in improving mental health (SMD = 0.37, 95% CI: 0.20 to 0.53). These interventions showed particularly strong effects on stress reduction (SMD = 0.86, 95% CI: 0.15 to 1.56) and social competence enhancement (SMD = 0.56, 95% CI: 0.07 to 1.06). Moreover, physical activity interventions were notably more effective for male adolescents (SMD = 1.11, 95% CI: 0.34 to 1.88) and those at the secondary school level (SMD = 0.45, 95% CI: 0.23 to 1.69). Conclusions Physical activity is beneficial in improving various aspects of mental health, including anxiety, depression, stress, self-esteem, and social competence in typically developing children and adolescents. However, the quality of evidence in this study is low due to methodological limitations of the studies included in this review. More high-quality randomized controlled trials are needed to validate these findings. Teachers and community workers can leverage physical activity as a preventive strategy to promote the mental health of children and adolescents. Future research should also investigate how factors like socioeconomic status and the sporting environment impact the effectiveness of these interventions. Trial registration PROSPERO, CRD42024567153.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-22690-8AdolescentsChildrenMental healthMeta-analysisPhysical activity |
| spellingShingle | Quan Fu Longhui Li Qiner Li Jingyi Wang The effects of physical activity on the mental health of typically developing children and adolescents: a systematic review and meta-analysis BMC Public Health Adolescents Children Mental health Meta-analysis Physical activity |
| title | The effects of physical activity on the mental health of typically developing children and adolescents: a systematic review and meta-analysis |
| title_full | The effects of physical activity on the mental health of typically developing children and adolescents: a systematic review and meta-analysis |
| title_fullStr | The effects of physical activity on the mental health of typically developing children and adolescents: a systematic review and meta-analysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | The effects of physical activity on the mental health of typically developing children and adolescents: a systematic review and meta-analysis |
| title_short | The effects of physical activity on the mental health of typically developing children and adolescents: a systematic review and meta-analysis |
| title_sort | effects of physical activity on the mental health of typically developing children and adolescents a systematic review and meta analysis |
| topic | Adolescents Children Mental health Meta-analysis Physical activity |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-22690-8 |
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