Physical activity and anxiety in adolescents : a systematic review of randomized controlled trials

Abstract

Background Anxiety disorders are among the most prevalent psychological disorders experienced during adolescence. Studies have suggested that physical activity may contribute to a beneficial role for anxiety including the prevention and reduction of anxiety symptoms among adolescents. This systematic review aims to explore the possible relationship between physical activity and anxiety.

Methods A systematic search was performed to locate randomized-controlled trials (RCT)from 1980to 30 April 2014 in PubMed, MEDLINE(ProQuest), PsycINFO(ProQuest) and Google scholar. Quality of RCTs was assessed using JADAD. The relationship of physical activity and anxiety was explored. The change of anxiety reported scores for intervention groups in the follow-up period was tabulated.

Findings From the results of five studies, physical activity may change mean anxiety scores in the general population of adolescents respectively. Regarding the within intervention group analysis, five studies had showed the significant changes compared pre-test and post-test anxiety scores, which support the positive effects of physical activity on anxiety. But no more evidence showed the specific period and depth the effects of interventions group as seldom trials reported follow-up data. That meant, we couldn’t tell whether there was enduring impacts of physical activity on reduction of anxiety symptoms. In these studies, the evidence of improvement levels of physical activity was weak as there were no consistent criteria of vigorous and aerobic exercise.

Conclusion The reduction of anxiety scores with physical activity intervention is the main findings. Though most results showed significant improvement, limitations in the study design, analysis and reporting limit the inferences regarding the effect of physical activity on the reduction and prevention of anxiety.