Tim Carter1, Michaela Pascoe2, Anastasios Bastounis3, Ioannis D Morres4, Patrick Callaghan5, Alexandra G Parker6. 1. Department of Medicine and Health Sciences, School of Health Sciences, University of Nottingham, United Kingdom. Electronic address: timothy.carter@nottingham.ac.uk. 2. Institute for Health and Sport, Victoria University, Australia. 3. Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Nottingham, United Kingdom. 4. Department of Physical Education and Sport Science, University of Thessaly, Greece. 5. School of Applied Sciences, London Southbank University, United Kingdom. 6. Institute for Health and Sport, Victoria University, Australia; Centre for Youth Mental Health and Orygen, University of Melbourne, Australia.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: There is emerging evidence that physical activity can have beneficial effects on anxiety. A comprehensive synthesis of the evidence of the anxiolytic effects of physical activity from randomised controlled trials (RCTs) in children and young people (CYP) is warranted. METHODS: A search of 13 databases was conducted to identify RCTs testing the effects of physical activity on anxiety symptoms in children and young people (up to 25 years). Screening, data extraction and risk of bias assessment (using the Cochrane Collaboration tool for assessing risk of bias) were independently undertaken by two study authors. The primary analysis used a random effects model to compare the effect of physical activity interventions to no intervention or minimal intervention control conditions on state anxiety, assessed using validated, self-report measures. RESULTS: Of the 3590 articles retrieved, 22 RCTs were included, with nine included in the primary meta-analysis. The overall standardised mean difference was 0.54 (95% CI -0.796, -0.28), representing a moderate improvement in state anxiety, compared to no intervention or minimal intervention control conditions. Physical activity was also found to produce significantly superior effects on state anxiety when compared to a time and attention-controlled group. LIMITATIONS: The studies are of low quality overall, and there are a limited number of studies included in the meta-analyses therefore limiting the precision of results. CONCLUSIONS: Physical activity may be a useful approach to addressing anxiety symptoms in children and young people, however, further trials of clinical populations are required to determine the effectiveness of physical activity as a treatment of anxiety disorders.
BACKGROUND: There is emerging evidence that physical activity can have beneficial effects on anxiety. A comprehensive synthesis of the evidence of the anxiolytic effects of physical activity from randomised controlled trials (RCTs) in children and young people (CYP) is warranted. METHODS: A search of 13 databases was conducted to identify RCTs testing the effects of physical activity on anxiety symptoms in children and young people (up to 25 years). Screening, data extraction and risk of bias assessment (using the Cochrane Collaboration tool for assessing risk of bias) were independently undertaken by two study authors. The primary analysis used a random effects model to compare the effect of physical activity interventions to no intervention or minimal intervention control conditions on state anxiety, assessed using validated, self-report measures. RESULTS: Of the 3590 articles retrieved, 22 RCTs were included, with nine included in the primary meta-analysis. The overall standardised mean difference was 0.54 (95% CI -0.796, -0.28), representing a moderate improvement in state anxiety, compared to no intervention or minimal intervention control conditions. Physical activity was also found to produce significantly superior effects on state anxiety when compared to a time and attention-controlled group. LIMITATIONS: The studies are of low quality overall, and there are a limited number of studies included in the meta-analyses therefore limiting the precision of results. CONCLUSIONS: Physical activity may be a useful approach to addressing anxiety symptoms in children and young people, however, further trials of clinical populations are required to determine the effectiveness of physical activity as a treatment of anxiety disorders.
Authors: Arne Kodal; Fiona Muirhead; John J Reilly; Gro Janne H Wergeland; Paul Joachim Bloch Thorsen; Lars Peder Bovim; Irene Bircow Elgen Journal: Pilot Feasibility Stud Date: 2022-03-02
Authors: Arnaud Philippot; Pauline Moulin; Marie-Hélène Charon; Costantino Balestra; Vincent Dubois; Philippe de Timary; Anne De Volder; Yannick Bleyenheuft; Kate Lambrechts Journal: Front Psychiatry Date: 2022-06-21 Impact factor: 5.435
Authors: Bina Ram; Kimberley A Foley; Esther van Sluijs; Dougal S Hargreaves; Russell M Viner; Sonia Saxena Journal: BMJ Open Date: 2022-09-30 Impact factor: 3.006
Authors: Romain Marconnot; Jorge Pérez-Corrales; Juan Nicolás Cuenca-Zaldívar; Javier Güeita-Rodríguez; Pilar Carrasco-Garrido; Cristina García-Bravo; Eva Solera-Hernández; Sonia Gutiérrez Gómez-Calcerrada; Domingo Palacios-Ceña Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2021-05-24 Impact factor: 3.390