Summary: A comprehensive analysis of 375 randomized trials involving more than 38,000 children and adolescents found that structured exercise programs significantly reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety. Low-intensity resistance activities—such as light weights and gentle circuit work—were most effective for easing anxiety, while moderate-intensity mixed aerobic and strength programs produced the strongest improvements in depression. Programs shorter than 12 weeks showed the most rapid benefits.
The effects were especially strong for young people diagnosed with depression or ADHD, and benefits often appeared quickly, particularly for those aged 12 and older. These results position exercise as an affordable, accessible intervention that can complement or, in some cases, serve as an alternative to traditional treatments for youth mental health concerns.
Key facts
- Targeted exercise matters: Light resistance training is linked to the largest reductions in anxiety; mixed-mode programs combining aerobic and strength training are most effective for depression.
- Rapid benefits: The greatest improvements in depression were observed in programs lasting under 12 weeks; effects were noticeable especially in adolescents aged 12 and older.
- Accessible solution: Exercise is a low-cost, non-pharmacological approach that can be implemented at home, at school, or in community settings.
Source: University of South Australia
Context: With more than three-quarters of children and teens affected by depression or anxiety, parents and clinicians are eager for effective, practical interventions. New findings from researchers at the University of South Australia suggest that regular, structured physical activity is a strong candidate to help reduce symptoms in young people.
This meta-meta-analysis combined data from 21 systematic reviews, representing 375 randomized controlled trials and 38,117 participants aged 5–18. The pooled evidence indicates moderate, clinically meaningful reductions in both depression and anxiety symptoms when children and adolescents participated in structured exercise programs.
Specifically, anxiety symptoms improved most with low-intensity resistance exercises such as light weights, bodyweight circuits, or gentle resistance-based activities. Depression symptoms responded best to moderate-intensity programs that mixed aerobic and strength elements—for example, circuit-style sessions combining cardio and resistance training. Notably, interventions lasting less than 12 weeks tended to deliver larger improvements in depression than longer programs, showing that progress can occur quickly.
The analysis found no consistent difference based on how many sessions per week were prescribed, suggesting flexibility in scheduling. Benefits were observed across different populations, including healthy youth and those with clinical conditions, with especially strong effects in young people diagnosed with depression or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Lead researcher Dr Ben Singh from the University of South Australia highlights the practical implications: exercise is an inexpensive, non-invasive option that can be integrated into daily life, schools, or clinical programs to support mental health. Traditional first-line treatments—such as cognitive behavioral therapy and antidepressant medication—remain important, but many children do not receive adequate treatment or do not respond sufficiently, underscoring a need for additional, evidence-based options.
Senior author Professor Carol Maher emphasizes that physical activity should be considered a core component of mental health care for children and adolescents. Short, structured programs that include strength training or a mix of activities appear particularly promising. However, everyday play, sport, and game-based movement are also valuable and accessible ways for families to support emotional wellbeing without specialized equipment or gym memberships.
About this exercise and mental health research news
Author: Annabel Mansfield
Source: University of South Australia
Contact: Annabel Mansfield – University of South Australia
Image: The image is credited to Neuroscience News
Original research: Open access. “Systematic Umbrella Review and Meta-Meta-Analysis: Effectiveness of Physical Activity in Improving Depression and Anxiety in Children and Adolescents” by Ben Singh et al., published in JAACAP Connect.
Abstract
Systematic Umbrella Review and Meta-Meta-Analysis: Effectiveness of Physical Activity in Improving Depression and Anxiety in Children and Adolescents
Objective
Rates of depression and anxiety are increasing among children and adolescents, leading researchers to investigate exercise as a therapeutic strategy. This umbrella review and meta-meta-analysis aimed to quantify the effects of physical activity on symptoms of depression and anxiety in youth and to identify which types of exercise interventions appear most effective.
Method
This review was preregistered (PROSPERO ID: CRD42024533558) and followed PRISMA and PRIOR reporting standards. The research team searched 11 databases to identify systematic reviews and meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials that tested aerobic, resistance, or mind–body exercise interventions in children and adolescents. Study quality was assessed with AMSTAR-2, and overall certainty of evidence was evaluated with the GRADE framework. Meta-analytic methods combined effect sizes using random-effects models, and subgroup analyses explored participant and intervention characteristics.
Results
Twenty-one systematic reviews were included, representing 375 RCTs and 38,117 participants aged 5–18, drawn from both clinical and non-clinical populations. Pooled analyses showed moderate effects favoring exercise for depression (standardized mean difference [SMD] = −0.45) and anxiety (SMD = −0.39). Mixed-mode and moderate-intensity exercise yielded the largest benefits for depression, while resistance-based activities were most effective for anxiety. Interventions shorter than 12 weeks were associated with greater reductions in depression symptoms compared with longer programs. Overall certainty of evidence was rated moderate for depression and low to moderate for anxiety.
Conclusion
The evidence indicates that structured physical activity reduces symptoms of depression and anxiety in children and adolescents. Given its accessibility and low cost, exercise should be considered an important component of comprehensive care strategies to support youth mental health.