Effectiveness of physical activity interventions for improving depression, anxiety and distress: an overview of systematic reviews

ObjectiveTo synthesise the evidence on the effects of physical activity on symptoms of depression, anxiety and psychological distress in adult populations.DesignUmbrella review.Data sourcesTwelve electronic databases were searched for eligible studies published from inception to 1 January 2022.Eligi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:British journal of sports medicine Vol. 57; no. 18; pp. 1203 - 1209
Main Authors: Singh, Ben, Olds, Timothy, Curtis, Rachel, Dumuid, Dorothea, Virgara, Rosa, Watson, Amanda, Szeto, Kimberley, O'Connor, Edward, Ferguson, Ty, Eglitis, Emily, Miatke, Aaron, Simpson, Catherine EM, Maher, Carol
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: England BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and British Association of Sport and Exercise Medicine 01.09.2023
BMJ Publishing Group LTD
BMJ Publishing Group
Subjects:
Adult
Adults
Anxiety
Anxiety - therapy
Bias
Chronic Disease
Chronic illnesses
Cohort analysis
depression
Depression - therapy
Disease
Drug therapy
Exercise
Female
Health Status
Humans
Intervention
Lifestyles
Mental depression
Mental Disorders
Mental health
Meta-analysis
Older people
physical activity
Physical fitness
Pregnancy
Psychotherapy
Quality of Life
stress, physiological
Systematic Review
Systematic Reviews as Topic
Australia
anxiety
exercise
depression
stress, physiological
physical activity
ISSN:0306-3674, 1473-0480, 1473-0480
Online Access:Get full text
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Description
Summary:ObjectiveTo synthesise the evidence on the effects of physical activity on symptoms of depression, anxiety and psychological distress in adult populations.DesignUmbrella review.Data sourcesTwelve electronic databases were searched for eligible studies published from inception to 1 January 2022.Eligibility criteria for selecting studiesSystematic reviews with meta-analyses of randomised controlled trials designed to increase physical activity in an adult population and that assessed depression, anxiety or psychological distress were eligible. Study selection was undertaken in duplicate by two independent reviewers.ResultsNinety-seven reviews (1039 trials and 128 119 participants) were included. Populations included healthy adults, people with mental health disorders and people with various chronic diseases. Most reviews (n=77) had a critically low A MeaSurement Tool to Assess systematic Reviews score. Physical activity had medium effects on depression (median effect size=−0.43, IQR=−0.66 to –0.27), anxiety (median effect size=−0.42, IQR=−0.66 to –0.26) and psychological distress (effect size=−0.60, 95% CI −0.78 to –0.42), compared with usual care across all populations. The largest benefits were seen in people with depression, HIV and kidney disease, in pregnant and postpartum women, and in healthy individuals. Higher intensity physical activity was associated with greater improvements in symptoms. Effectiveness of physical activity interventions diminished with longer duration interventions.Conclusion and relevancePhysical activity is highly beneficial for improving symptoms of depression, anxiety and distress across a wide range of adult populations, including the general population, people with diagnosed mental health disorders and people with chronic disease. Physical activity should be a mainstay approach in the management of depression, anxiety and psychological distress.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42021292710.
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ISSN:0306-3674
1473-0480
1473-0480
DOI:10.1136/bjsports-2022-106195