Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39609855›Full record

SynthesisThe international journal of behavioral nutrition and physical activity2024

Physical activity and mental health: a systematic review and best-evidence synthesis of mediation and moderation studies.

Rhiannon L White, Stewart Vella, Stuart Biddle, Jordan Sutcliffe, Justin M Guagliano, Riaz Uddin, Alice Burgin, Maria Apostolopoulos, Tatiana Nguyen, Carmen Young and 3 more

Abstract readSystematic Review
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in The international journal of behavioral nutrition and physical activity, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 148 papers, 9 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
148citing papers in PubMed, 9 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

148 citing papers in PubMed, 9 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

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88 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

13 authors.

Rhiannon L WhiteSchool of Health Sciences, Western Sydney University, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, NSW, 2751, Australia. Rhiannon.White@westernsydney.edu.au.ORCID 0000-0002-5118-6226
Stewart VellaGlobal Alliance of Mental Health and Sport, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia.
Stuart BiddleCentre for Health Research, University of Southern Queensland, Springfield Central, QLD, 4300, Australia.
Jordan SutcliffeGlobal Alliance of Mental Health and Sport, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia.
Justin M GuaglianoSchool of Health Sciences, Western Sydney University, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, NSW, 2751, Australia.
Riaz UddinInstitute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN) School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia.
Alice BurginSchool of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Burwood, VIC, Australia.
Maria ApostolopoulosInstitute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN) School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia.
Tatiana NguyenSchool of Health Sciences, Western Sydney University, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, NSW, 2751, Australia.
Carmen YoungSchool of Health Sciences, Western Sydney University, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, NSW, 2751, Australia.
Nicole TaylorSchool of Health Sciences, Western Sydney University, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, NSW, 2751, Australia.
Samantha LilleySchool of Health Sciences, Western Sydney University, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, NSW, 2751, Australia.
Megan TeychenneInstitute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN) School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundWhile evidence consistently demonstrates that physical activity is beneficial to mental health, it remains relatively unknown how physical activity benefits mental health, and which factors influence the effect of physical activity on mental health. This understanding could vastly increase our capacity to design, recommend, and prescribe physical activity in more optimal ways. The purpose of this study was to systematically review and synthesise evidence of all mediators and moderators of the relationship between physical activity and mental health.

methodsSystematic searches of four databases (i.e., Scopus, PsycINFO, PubMed, and SPORTDiscus) identified 11,633 initial studies. Empirical studies that quantitatively assessed physical activity, or conducted a physical activity intervention, measured a mental health outcome, and tested one or more mediator or moderator of the relationship between physical activity and mental health were included. A total of 247 met the inclusion criteria; 173 studies examined mediation and 82 examined moderation.

resultsResults of the best-evidence synthesis revealed strong evidence for 12 mediators including affect, mental health and wellbeing, self-esteem, self-efficacy, physical self-worth, body image satisfaction, resilience, social support, social connection, physical health, pain, and fatigue. Moderate evidence was identified for a further 15 mediators and eight moderators.

conclusionsFindings should inform the design of future physical activity interventions to ensure optimal effects on mental health related outcomes. Additionally, if health professionals were to take these mediators and moderators into consideration when prescribing or recommending physical activity, physical activity would likely have a greater impact on population mental health.

Indexed as

ExerciseMental HealthSelf ConceptSelf EfficacyAffectBody ImageFatigueHumansResilience, PsychologicalSocial SupportAnxietyDepressionExerciseMechanismsMediatorsModeratorsWellbeing

Identifiers

PMID39609855
PMCPMC11603721

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.