Mechanisms Linking Physical Activity with Psychiatric Symptoms Across the Lifespan: A Systematic Review

Physical activity has been suggested as a protective factor against psychiatric symptoms. While numerous studies have focused on the magnitude of physical activity's effect on psychiatric symptoms, few have examined the potential mechanisms.

The current review aimed to synthesize scientific evidence of the mechanisms through which physical activity might reduce psychiatric symptoms across the lifespan.

We included articles that were published before March 2022 from five electronic databases (MEDLINE, Web of Science, PsycINFO, Embase, and Cochrane). A qualitative synthesis of studies was conducted. The risk of bias assessment was performed using The Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Tool for Systematic Reviews. Studies were included if they explored the possible mechanisms through which physical activity influences psychiatric symptoms (i.e., internalizing and externalizing symptoms) across the lifespan.

A total of 22 articles were included (three randomized controlled trials, four non-randomized controlled trials, three prospective longitudinal studies, and 12 cross-sectional studies). Overall, most of the studies focused on children, adolescents, and young adults. Our findings showed that self-esteem, self-concept, and self-efficacy were the only consistent paths through which physical activity influences psychiatric symptoms (specifically depressive and anxiety symptoms) across the lifespan. There were insufficient studies to determine the role of neurobiological mechanisms.

Overall, future physical activity interventions with the purpose of improving mental health should consider these mechanisms (self-esteem, self-concept, self-efficacy) to develop more effective interventions.

The protocol of this study was registered in the PROSPERO database (registration number CRD42021239440) and published in April 2022.