Review: Physical activity interventions for the mental health and well‐being of adolescents – a systematic review

Abstract

Background Rates of physical activity decline throughout adolescence, and evidence indicates that this has an adverse impact on psychological health. This paper aims to synthesise available evidence for physical activity interventions on the mental health and well‐being of young people (11–19 years) from the general population. Method Nine databases were searched to identify studies published between January 2005 and June 2020: Web of Science, ProQuest Psychology Journals, PsycINFO, Pub Med, ASSIA, CINHAL PLUS, SPORTDiscus, EMBASE and Wiley Online Library. Key search terms included ‘physical activity intervention’, ‘mental health’ and ‘adolescen*’. Eligible studies were independently screened by two authors based on inclusion/exclusion criteria. Results Twenty‐eight interventions were narratively synthesised in four categories: Quality of Life (QOL), self‐esteem, psychological well‐being and psychological ill‐being (e.g. depression, stress). A large proportion (67.9%) of interventions were multicomponent and combined physical activity with other features such as health education (e.g. nutrition). However, only a limited number (N = 5) specifically addressed mental health. Findings suggest that interventions are useful in improving psychological well‐being and QOL, yet evidence for self‐esteem is mixed. Conclusions Although effectiveness in improving well‐being is evident, evidence for a reduction in the frequency and severity of mental health problems is less clear. A summary of the overall impact of physical activity interventions on the mental health of young people is presented.

Examining the Link Between Physical Activity and Cognitive Function: A Parallel Mediation Model of Health and Wellbeing Among Adolescents

“…However, as academic pressure encroaches on adolescents’ life, engagement in MPA has rapidly declined while increase in sedentary behavior has been widely observed ( Van Stralen et al, 2014 ; Hartikainen et al, 2021 ). This trend, evidenced in recent literature, is likely to pose detrimental risks to adolescents’ health, wellbeing, and cognitive function ( Corder et al, 2015 ; Hale et al, 2021 ).…”

Physical Activity and Quality of Life in High School Students: Proposals for Improving the Self-Concept in Physical Education

“…In this sense, it is important to highlight the positive impact that physical activity has on the mental health of adolescents. In this regard, some authors emphasize the intensity of physical activity practice to improve self-concept [23]; however, other authors who do not take self-concept into account highlight the importance of physical activity in mental health [44]. Similarly, few studies have evaluated the associations that the perception of self-concept has in quality of life [45,46], and those that exist address these associations from the point of view of certain subdomains of self-concept such as self-esteem, which has been positively related to quality of life [47,48].…”

The Role of Controlled Motivation in the Self-Esteem of Adolescent Students in Physical Education Classes

“…Thus, in this context, learning new skills, successfully achieving the proposed tasks, and feeling loved and accepted by peers, could be appropriate factors for the promotion of these values. Among them, working on and increasing self-esteem through the practice of physical activity has become a priority in some intervention programs, due to its positive repercussions on health, especially mental health [ 5 ].…”

“…Gergen [ 7 ] defines self-esteem as the degree to which people feel positive about themselves. It affects motivation, life satisfaction, and well-being throughout life [ 8 ], and can be used as an indicator of emotional health and psychological benefits gained from regular participation in physical activity [ 5 , 9 ]. In this sense, the theoretical construct of physical self-perceptions [ 5 ] indicates that positive experiences lead to positive feelings and improved overall self-esteem.…”

“…It affects motivation, life satisfaction, and well-being throughout life [ 8 ], and can be used as an indicator of emotional health and psychological benefits gained from regular participation in physical activity [ 5 , 9 ]. In this sense, the theoretical construct of physical self-perceptions [ 5 ] indicates that positive experiences lead to positive feelings and improved overall self-esteem. In contrast, a low self-esteem is related to different diseases, such as psychiatric disorders, obesity, eating disorders, etc.…”