Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40052614›Full record

SynthesisCancer medicine2025

Effects of Exercise on Depression and Anxiety in Breast Cancer Survivors: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Yifan Zhang, Gen Li, Shiyan Zhang, Yilun Zhou, Yuanyuan Lv, Lin Feng, Laikang Yu

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Cancer medicine, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 19 papers, 7 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
19citing papers in PubMed, 7 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

19 citing papers in PubMed, 7 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
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  8. Article
  9. Article
  10. The impact of social determinants of health on mental and behavioral health trajectories of breast cancer survivors: A longitudinal cohort study.European journal of oncology nursing : the official journal of European Oncology Nursing Society · 2026
    Article
  11. Review
  12. Exercise, cognition, and affective disorders.Frontiers in sports and active living · 2026
    Review
  13. Review
  14. Review
  15. Article
  16. Investigating fatigue in adults with neuroendocrine neoplasms using a biopsychosocial model.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2025
    Observational
  17. Article
  18. Article
  19. Article
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

7 authors.

Yifan ZhangBeijing Key Laboratory of Sports Performance and Skill Assessment, Beijing Sport University, Beijing, China.
Gen LiSchool of Physical Education & Sports Science, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China.
Shiyan ZhangSchool of Sport Sciences, Beijing Sport University, Beijing, China.
Yilun ZhouDepartment of Strength and Conditioning Assessment and Monitoring, Beijing Sport University, Beijing, China.
Yuanyuan LvBeijing Key Laboratory of Sports Performance and Skill Assessment, Beijing Sport University, Beijing, China.
Lin FengSchool of Sport Sciences, Beijing Sport University, Beijing, China.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0981-031X
Laikang YuBeijing Key Laboratory of Sports Performance and Skill Assessment, Beijing Sport University, Beijing, China.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7649-5095

Funding

Humanities and Social Science Fund of Ministry of Education of China 24YJC890065
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundNumerous studies have investigated the effects of exercise on depression and anxiety in breast cancer survivors, yet the results remain inconsistent. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of exercise on depression and anxiety in breast cancer survivors and to ascertain the optimal exercise regimen for this patient population.

methodsA comprehensive search was conducted across Embase, PubMed, the Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and Scopus until 28 October 2023. A meta-analysis was conducted to quantify the standardized mean difference (SMD) and 95% confidence interval (CI).

resultsA total of 25 studies met the inclusion criteria. Exercise significantly alleviated depression (SMD, -0.63, p < 0.0001) and anxiety (SMD, -0.49, p = 0.0002) in breast cancer survivors. Specifically, aerobic exercise (SMD, -0.44, p = 0.03) and multicomponent training (SMD, -0.86, p = 0.002) were found to be particularly effective in alleviating depression. However, only multicomponent training significantly alleviated anxiety (SMD, -0.66, p = 0.003) in breast cancer survivors. Additionally, multicomponent training conducted for ≥ 3 times per week (depression, SMD, -1.22, p = 0.006; anxiety, SMD, -0.93, p = 0.004) and ≤ 60 min per session (depression, SMD, -1.19, p = 0.002; anxiety, SMD, -0.85, p = 0.005) were deemed most effective in alleviating depression and anxiety in breast cancer survivors.

conclusionsExercise significantly alleviated depression and anxiety in breast cancer survivors, with multicomponent training being the most effective intervention type. This meta-analysis provides clinicians with evidence to recommend that breast cancer survivors engage in multicomponent training more than three times per week, with each session lasting no more than 60 min, to alleviate depression and anxiety.

Indexed as

AnxietyBreast NeoplasmsCancer SurvivorsDepressionExerciseExercise TherapyFemaleHumansRandomized Controlled Trials as Topicanxietybreast cancerdepressionexercise

Identifiers

PMID40052614
PMCPMC11886893

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.