Aerobic Training on Mental Health in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis

Introduction: Mental health problems in children and adolescents are a growing public health concern. Aerobic physical activity has been identified as a promising, accessible, and low-cost intervention to promote psychological well-being. Methods: This systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted following PRISMA 2020 guidelines and a pre-registered PROSPERO protocol. We searched PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and CINAHL for randomized controlled trials published until December 2024, with no language restrictions. Eligibility criteria included interventions based on aerobic physical activity among children and adolescents (5–18 years) reporting outcomes on mental health (e.g., depression, anxiety, self-esteem, mood, resilience). Methodological quality was assessed with the PEDro scale. Results: From 828 initial records, 21 studies met the inclusion criteria and 19 were included in the meta-analysis. The trials, conducted in diverse countries and settings, applied structured aerobic interventions (e.g., running, dancing, cycling, active games) with durations of 6–30 weeks. The pooled results showed significant improvements in depression, anxiety, self-esteem, and stress, with the largest effects observed in stress reduction and self-esteem enhancement. Conclusions: Aerobic physical activity appears to be an effective and feasible strategy to improve mental health in children and adolescents. Its integration into school and community programs is recommended as a preventive and complementary approach to traditional treatments.