Chinese Journal of Rehabilitation Theory and Practice ›› 2024, Vol. 30 ›› Issue (10): 1125-1132.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1006-9771.2024.10.002

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Effect of physical activity on psychological and behavioral health in children and adolescents: a systematic review of systematic reviews

YAN Jingfei1, DAI Shengting2()   

  1. 1. School of Physical Education, Shanghai Institute of Technology, Shanghai 201418, China
    2. School of Sports Science and Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
  • Received:2024-09-06 Published:2024-10-25 Online:2024-11-08
  • Contact: DAI Shengting, E-mail: daishengting@126.com
  • Supported by:
    Ministry of Education Humanities and Social Sciences Youth Fund(23YJC890048)

Abstract:

Objective To systematically review the evidence from systematic reviews on the impact of physical activity on the mental and behavioral health of children and adolescents.

Methods Literature was searched across databases including PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, PsycINFO, Cochrane Library, and CNKI for systematic reviews published between January, 2014 and January, 2024 regarding the effect of physical activity on the mental and behavioral health of children and adolescents. Relevant evidence was analyzed.

Results A total of ten English articles were included, involving 221 580 children and adolescents from Australia, China, Canada, the United States and Spain. The included studies were mainly from journals in the fields of pediatrics, child health and development, and psychology. Participants were aged five to 18 years and included both healthy individuals and those with health conditions such as neurodevelopmental disorders, depression and obesity. The interventions included school physical education programs, community physical activity projects, home exercise plans, extracurricular sports programs, extracurricular physical activities and interventions to reduce sedentary behavior. Intervention types included aerobic exercise, strength training, and recreational activities. The frequency of interventions ranged from 15 to 120 minutes per session, two to six times per week, with intensities from low to high, lasting from six to 81 weeks. Health outcomes mainly reflected improvements in children's attention, executive function, memory, and learning ability, reductions in anxiety and depressive symptoms, increases in self-esteem and self-efficacy, improvements in social adaptability and life satisfaction, reductions in obesity rates, and the promotion of healthier lifestyles.

Conclusion Physical activity helps children and adolescents improve attention, executive function, memory and learning ability, reduce anxiety and depressive symptoms, boost self-esteem and self-efficacy, enhance social adaptability and life satisfaction, lower obesity rates, and promote positive lifestyle changes.

Key words: children, adolescents, physical activity, psychology, behavioral health, systematic review

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