Programs Promoting Physical Activity and Social-Emotional Learning for Adolescents: A Systematic Literature Review

Area of Science:

• Adolescent Development
• Educational Psychology
• Public Health

Background:

• Social-emotional learning (SEL) and physical activity (PA) are crucial for adolescent development.
• Existing research highlights the benefits of both SEL and PA individually.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review educational programs that simultaneously promote social-emotional learning and physical activity in adolescents.
• To synthesize findings on the effectiveness of integrated SEL and PA interventions.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive literature search was conducted in 2023 across major electronic databases.
• Included studies evaluated integrated SEL and PA programs for adolescents (10-19 years) using quasi-experimental or experimental designs.
• Five studies met the inclusion criteria, focusing on outcomes related to both SEL and PA.

Main Results:

• Interventions combining SEL and PA yielded mixed results, with some showing benefits for both domains, while others impacted SEL only.
• Integrated interventions demonstrated modest effects, indicating potential for enhancing adolescent well-being.
• Variability in outcomes suggests a need for further investigation into optimal program implementation.

Conclusions:

• Combining social-emotional learning and physical activity is important for adolescent development.
• Integrated interventions can be delivered in both in-school and out-of-school settings.
• More research is necessary to refine and optimize combined SEL and PA programs.