A review of 17 randomised trials found meaningful mental health benefits from exercise in adolescents, while highlighting gaps in evidence over which activities and routines work best.
A new systematic review and meta-analysis published in Frontiers in Psychology says exercise can meaningfully improve depression, anxiety and stress in adolescents, adding to a growing body of evidence that physical activity may play a useful role alongside other non-pharmacological approaches to mental health care. The review pooled 17 randomised controlled trials and found statistically significant benefits across all three outcomes, while also cautioning that the evidence base remains small and uneven. Frontiers said the study was registered in advance with PROSPERO, reflecting standard review practice.
The findings build on earlier research suggesting that exercise can ease depressive symptoms in young people, but the new analysis goes further by examining anxiety and stress as well. A 2023 meta-analysis indexed by PubMed also concluded that exercise reduces adolescent depression, and more recent work has continued to support structured activity as a mental health intervention in schools and clinical settings. A separate trial reported in Nature Scientific Reports found that exergaming, an interactive form of digital physical activity, improved depressive symptoms, anxiety and sleep quality in students with subthreshold depression.
The Frontiers review also attempted to identify which exercise patterns may work best. Based on its network meta-analysis, the authors suggested that low-intensity Tai Chi Chuan done fewer than three times a week for more than 60 minutes per session may be particularly helpful for depression. For anxiety, the study pointed to moderate-to-high-intensity high-intensity interval training, or HIIT, for more than 60 minutes at a time and fewer than three sessions per week. For stress, it highlighted low-intensity yoga lasting 30 to 60 minutes and performed fewer than three times a week. A separate 2026 dose-response review in ScienceDirect similarly reported that aerobic exercise can reduce depression and anxiety in adolescents, although it stressed that the best prescription depends on the outcome being targeted.
Even so, the authors urged caution. They said the review was limited by the small number of trials, uneven study sizes and the likelihood of publication bias, meaning studies with positive results may be more likely to appear in the literature. That is an important caveat for parents, schools and clinicians looking for practical guidance: the overall direction of evidence is encouraging, but the exact “dose” of exercise most likely to help is still being refined. Still, taken alongside school-based trials and other recent reviews, the study strengthens the case for exercise as a low-cost, accessible option that may support adolescent mental health when used thoughtfully and with appropriate supervision.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
