Effectiveness of an Adapted Physical Activity Program on anxiety, depression, and self-esteem on a heterogenous sample: A randomized controlled trial

In recent decades, numerous studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of Adapted Physical Activity (APA) interventions in improving the mental health of individuals. However, a limitation of these studies is their predominant focus on homogeneous groups, characterized by similar diseases or disorders and characteristics. Thus, effects associated with these groups may largely account for the observed benefits, rather than the physical activity itself. This study aimed to investigate the impact of an eight-week APA intervention on anxiety, depression, and self-esteem in a heterogeneous group of participants with diverse health conditions and ages. Participants were randomly assigned to either an experimental group (n = 38) that engaged in the eight-week APA intervention or a control group (n = 31) that delayed participation. The findings of this study provide compelling evidence that an APA intervention significantly improves self-esteem while reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression, even in a heterogeneous group. These results contribute to the understanding of the effects of APA on mental health outcomes and support its implementation for diverse populations. Further research comparing homogeneous and heterogeneous groups and exploring the underlying mechanisms is warranted.