Effects of Physical Activity or Exercise on Depressive Symptoms and Self-Esteem in Older Adults: A Systematic Review

There is a high prevalence of depression in older adults, and it is on the rise. However, exercise or physical activity can help improve mental health conditions, specifically depression and self-esteem. Therefore, the objective of this systematic review (INPLASY202360094) is to describe and analyze...

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Main Authors: María Muñoz Pinto, Felipe Montalva-Valenzuela, Claudio Farías-Valenzuela, Paloma Ferrero Hernández, Gerson Ferrari, Antonio Castillo-Paredes
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-04-01
Series:Psychiatry International
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2673-5318/6/2/46
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author María Muñoz Pinto
Felipe Montalva-Valenzuela
Claudio Farías-Valenzuela
Paloma Ferrero Hernández
Gerson Ferrari
Antonio Castillo-Paredes
author_facet María Muñoz Pinto
Felipe Montalva-Valenzuela
Claudio Farías-Valenzuela
Paloma Ferrero Hernández
Gerson Ferrari
Antonio Castillo-Paredes
author_sort María Muñoz Pinto
collection DOAJ
description There is a high prevalence of depression in older adults, and it is on the rise. However, exercise or physical activity can help improve mental health conditions, specifically depression and self-esteem. Therefore, the objective of this systematic review (INPLASY202360094) is to describe and analyze the effects of physical activity or exercise interventions on depressive symptoms and self-esteem in older adults. Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines, a search strategy was carried out in four databases (PubMed, SciELO, WoS, and Scopus). Inclusion criteria: Studies that used physical activity or exercise as an intervention to improve depressive symptoms and self-esteem in older adults. The Physiotherapy Evidence Database scale and the Risk of Bias 2 tool were used to evaluate the quality of the articles. To synthesize the information from the studies, it was ordered based on author names, intervention, frequency, analysis, and results. Seven investigations met the selection criteria. It is concluded that physical activity or exercise improves self-esteem, depression, anxiety, physical fitness, and functionality in older adults. Therefore, it is a viable option for additional or complementary treatment aimed at achieving a comprehensive improvement in the lives of this population.
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spelling doaj-art-d20011915d294cd59d9f04697046152e2025-08-20T03:16:38ZengMDPI AGPsychiatry International2673-53182025-04-01624610.3390/psychiatryint6020046Effects of Physical Activity or Exercise on Depressive Symptoms and Self-Esteem in Older Adults: A Systematic ReviewMaría Muñoz Pinto0Felipe Montalva-Valenzuela1Claudio Farías-Valenzuela2Paloma Ferrero Hernández3Gerson Ferrari4Antonio Castillo-Paredes5Escuela de Ciencias de la Actividad Física, el Deporte y la Salud, Universidad de Santiago de Chile (USACH), Santiago 9170022, ChileLaboratorio de Fisiología del Ejercicio y Metabolismo (LABFEM), Escuela de Kinesiología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Finis Terrae, Santiago 7501014, ChileFacultad de Ciencias de la Rehabilitación y Calidad de Vida, Universidad San Sebastián, Santiago 7500000, ChileVicerrectoría de Investigación e Innovación, Universidad Arturo Prat, Iquique 1110939, ChileEscuela de Ciencias de la Actividad Física, el Deporte y la Salud, Universidad de Santiago de Chile (USACH), Santiago 9170022, ChileEscuela de Ciencias de la Actividad Física, el Deporte y la Salud, Universidad de Santiago de Chile (USACH), Santiago 9170022, ChileThere is a high prevalence of depression in older adults, and it is on the rise. However, exercise or physical activity can help improve mental health conditions, specifically depression and self-esteem. Therefore, the objective of this systematic review (INPLASY202360094) is to describe and analyze the effects of physical activity or exercise interventions on depressive symptoms and self-esteem in older adults. Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines, a search strategy was carried out in four databases (PubMed, SciELO, WoS, and Scopus). Inclusion criteria: Studies that used physical activity or exercise as an intervention to improve depressive symptoms and self-esteem in older adults. The Physiotherapy Evidence Database scale and the Risk of Bias 2 tool were used to evaluate the quality of the articles. To synthesize the information from the studies, it was ordered based on author names, intervention, frequency, analysis, and results. Seven investigations met the selection criteria. It is concluded that physical activity or exercise improves self-esteem, depression, anxiety, physical fitness, and functionality in older adults. Therefore, it is a viable option for additional or complementary treatment aimed at achieving a comprehensive improvement in the lives of this population.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-5318/6/2/46older adultsphysical activityexercisedepressionself-esteem
spellingShingle María Muñoz Pinto
Felipe Montalva-Valenzuela
Claudio Farías-Valenzuela
Paloma Ferrero Hernández
Gerson Ferrari
Antonio Castillo-Paredes
Effects of Physical Activity or Exercise on Depressive Symptoms and Self-Esteem in Older Adults: A Systematic Review
Psychiatry International
older adults
physical activity
exercise
depression
self-esteem
title Effects of Physical Activity or Exercise on Depressive Symptoms and Self-Esteem in Older Adults: A Systematic Review
title_full Effects of Physical Activity or Exercise on Depressive Symptoms and Self-Esteem in Older Adults: A Systematic Review
title_fullStr Effects of Physical Activity or Exercise on Depressive Symptoms and Self-Esteem in Older Adults: A Systematic Review
title_full_unstemmed Effects of Physical Activity or Exercise on Depressive Symptoms and Self-Esteem in Older Adults: A Systematic Review
title_short Effects of Physical Activity or Exercise on Depressive Symptoms and Self-Esteem in Older Adults: A Systematic Review
title_sort effects of physical activity or exercise on depressive symptoms and self esteem in older adults a systematic review
topic older adults
physical activity
exercise
depression
self-esteem
url https://www.mdpi.com/2673-5318/6/2/46
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