Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40903203›Full record

SynthesisBritish journal of sports medicine2026

Domain-specific physical activity and mental health: an updated systematic review and multilevel meta-analysis in a combined sample of 3.3 million people.

Megan Teychenne, Geovan M Sousa, Thea Baker, Caitlin Liddelow, Mark Babic, Aiden J Chauntry, Madeleine France-Ratcliffe, Justin Guagliano, Hannah E Christie, Ella M Tremaine and 11 more

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

Synthesis in British journal of sports medicine, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 21 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
21citing papers in PubMed, 3 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

21 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

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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

21 authors.

Megan TeychenneInstitute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN), School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia mteych@deakin.edu.au.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7293-8255
Geovan M SousaInstitute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN), School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8674-5067
Thea Baker *Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN), School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia.
Caitlin Liddelow *School of Psychology, Faculty of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1083-5979
Mark Babic *Centre for Active Living and Learning, College of Human and Social Futures, The University of Newcastle Australia, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia.
Aiden J Chauntry *Department of Exercise and Sport Science, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA.
Madeleine France-Ratcliffe *Research Institute for Sport and Exercise Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK.
Justin Guagliano *Translational Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University, Penrith, New South Wales, Australia.
Hannah E Christie *Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Diabetes, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA.
Ella M Tremaine *Institute for Positive Psychology and Education, Australian Catholic University, North Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Bridget Booker *Institute for Positive Psychology and Education, Australian Catholic University, North Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Davide Gargioli *Physical Activity, Sport and Exercise Research Theme, Faculty of Health, Southern Cross University, Coffs Harbour, New South Wales, Australia.
Daniel J Bannell *Research Institute for Sport and Exercise Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK.
Ran BaoCentre for Active Living and Learning, College of Human and Social Futures, The University of Newcastle Australia, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia.
Cristy Brooks *Translational Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University, Penrith, New South Wales, Australia.
David R LubansCentre for Active Living and Learning, College of Human and Social Futures, The University of Newcastle Australia, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0204-8257
Christian SwannPhysical Activity, Sport and Exercise Research Theme, Faculty of Health, Southern Cross University, Coffs Harbour, New South Wales, Australia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1502-3179
Stewart A VellaSchool of Psychology, Faculty of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0537-9366
Chris LonsdaleInstitute for Positive Psychology and Education, Australian Catholic University, North Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2523-5565
Alexandre Bergamo Dos SantosSchool of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Rhiannon L WhiteSchool of Health Sciences, Western Sydney University, Penrith, New South Wales, Australia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5118-6226

Funding

Cardiometabolic Disease Prevention in College-based Young Adults: Mapping a Contextual Sedentary Behavior InterventionR01HL162805 · NHLBI · UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL · PI HANSON, ERIK D · 2022 to 2025
$2.2M
NHLBI NIH HHS R01 HL162805
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveTo update, synthesise and provide meta-analytical evidence of the associations between domain-specific physical activity (PA) and mental health and mental ill-health outcomes.

designSystematic review and multilevel meta-analysis. DATA SOURCES: In March 2024, we systematically searched five databases. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: Methods employed replicated those of a previous review in 2017. All studies examining associations between domain-specific PA and specified mental health outcomes were included.

results372 studies met inclusion criteria and 361 were included in the meta-analysis. Across the 372 studies (combined sample size of 3 323 711), 338 examined leisure-time PA, 54 work-related PA, 72 transport-related PA, 44 household PA, 5 school sport and 8 physical education. Multilevel meta-analyses showed that leisure-time PA (r=0.205, 95% CI 0.157 to 0.253), transport-related PA (r=0.138, 95% CI 0.042 to 0.231) and household PA (r=0.096, 95% CI 0.025 to 0.165) were positively associated with

conclusionThe direction of the association between PA and mental health/mental ill health is dependent on the domain in which PA occurs. Promoting PA for leisure purposes is likely to yield the greatest benefits for both promoting mental health and preventing mental ill health. As such, leisure-time PA should be prioritised in messaging, guidelines and interventions/programmes designed to support mental health through PA. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42024510303.

Indexed as

ExerciseMental HealthHumansLeisure ActivitiesMental DisordersPhysical Education and TrainingSportsExerciseMeta-analysisPhysical activitySystematic review

Identifiers

PMID40903203
PMCPMC12702480

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceTDM
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.