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

Summary & key facts

This systematic review collected and combined evidence on what explains and what changes the link between physical activity and mental health. The authors screened 11,633 records and included 247 studies (173 tested mediators and 82 tested moderators). They found strong evidence for 12 mediators—such as affect, self‑esteem, self‑efficacy, social support, physical health, pain, and fatigue—and moderate evidence for 15 more mediators and for 8 moderators. The studies varied in design and quality, so the results point to likely pathways but are not definitive proof of cause and effect.

Key facts:

• The authors screened 11,633 records and included 247 studies that tested mediators or moderators of the physical activity–mental health relationship.
• Of the 247 included studies, 173 examined mediation (factors that could explain the link) and 82 examined moderation (factors that might change the strength of the link).
• There was strong evidence for 12 mediators: 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.
• The review also found moderate evidence for 15 additional mediators and for 8 moderators, though the paper reports variability across studies in methods and quality.
• Searches were done in four databases (Scopus, PsycINFO, PubMed, SPORTDiscus) up to July 2024, and the authors used a risk-of-bias tool to assess study quality.
• The authors state these findings can help guide future study designs and the development of physical activity interventions, but they note the evidence comes from varied study types and is not uniform proof of how or when physical activity

Topics

Behavioral Health and Interventions Physical Activity and Health Psychological Well-being and Life Satisfaction

Categories

Health Sciences Medicine Physiology

Tags

Clinical psychology Environmental health Law Mediation Medicine MEDLINE Mental health Moderated mediation Moderation Political science Population Psychiatry Psychological intervention Psychology PsycINFO Social psychology

Conditions & symptoms

Anxiety Depression Anxiety or worry Lack of energy or motivation Sadness or low mood