Introduction

Mental health is defined as a state of well-being in which each individual develops his or her potential, can cope with life's stresses, work productively and fruitfully, and contribute to his or her community [1]. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines adolescents as individuals in the 10-19 years age group, and estimates that 20% of adolescents worldwide suffer from some mental disorder [2]. Separation anxiety, attention deficit or social phobia are some of the most common disorders that can occur in children of any race or ethnicity [3].

Globally, it is estimated that 1 in 7 adolescents (14%) experience mental health conditions [4]. Mental health conditions such as anxiety and depressive disorders constitute a major burden of disease for adolescents worldwide [5]. About 15% of adolescents had a major depressive episode, 37% had persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness, and 20% reported that they considered suicide [6]. As for sedentary lifestyle in adolescents, a significant relationship has been found with depressive symptomatology [7,8]. Behavioral disorders, social phobia, sadness, loss of interest in activities, changes in appetite and sleep, lack of concentration, loss of confidence, negative thoughts about the future, guilt or suicide are added [9,10].

To positively benefit the emotional and mental state of people, in addition to improving physical appearance and maintaining health, physical exercise, exercise, sport, play or recreation and Programed Physical Education (PPE) are proposed as a therapeutic strategy [11]. There are differences between the terms physical activity, exercise, sport, play or recreation and physical education class, which are defined below in order to facilitate understanding of the methodology and results of this study.

Exercise according to the WHO is defined as any bodily movement produced by skeletal muscles that requires energy expenditure, and can be classified as mild, moderate and vigorous according to their intensity [12]. Exercise is a component of physical activity. The distinguishing characteristic of exercise is that it is a structured activity specifically planned to develop and maintain physical fitness [13]. Sport is a game that involves physical skills with a wide following and a wide level of stability [14]. Playing or recreation is at the heart of early years’ education and is central to children’s learning, as well as their physical, mental, social, and emotional health and well-being [15]. PPE is carried out in schools where at least 2 hours week specific activities are carried out to achieve developmental objectives related to physical fitness, health promotion, wellness and healthy lifestyles in students [16].

Adolescents who engage in regular physical activity can reduce anxiety, depression, stress levels, as well as improve mood, cognitive function, self-esteem and sleep habits [17]. Exercise and physical activity are tools that benefit physical and mental health, and a positive association with mental health interventions has been demonstrated [18]. Thus, there is a positive association between physical activity and a lower risk of developing physical and/or mental illness [19,20].

Given the above, the present scoping review delves into the parameters of physical exercise prescription and its effect on the mental health of adolescents, in order to expand the scientific evidence-based information on the exercises, dosage, and parameters of individualized exercise most appropriate for this population. In this way, to provide relevant information to health professionals who prescribe exercise, such as physical therapists, physical educators, and trainers. Therefore, the following question was posed: what are the parameters of exercise prescription and its effect on mental health in adolescents? The general objective of this research was to identify the most implemented exercises and their prescription, in addition to the effects of exercise on mental health in adolescents.

Methodology

Sources of information search

Research was analyzed in relation to the study variables and included cohort studies and controlled clinical trials from 2013 to 2023, from electronic databases: PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus, Springer and a search engine Google Scholar, in English, Spanish, and Portuguese. Terms were used for the search with combinations of Boléan operators: (mental health) AND (physical activity OR exercise OR physical exercise OR physical exercise) AND (child OR adolescent OR teen). Search equations are specified en Table 1.

Table 1

Information search equation.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion criteria: studies conducted in adolescents, providing information on exercise prescription and its effect on mental health. Spanish, Portuguese, and English languages published between 2013-2023. Exclusion criteria: systematic reviews, case series, and case reports were not included.

Condition / Domain of the study: PICO Description

Participants/Population: Adolescents.

Intervention/Exposure: Exercise, sport.

Control group: PPE, play or recreation.

Results: Muscle strength, aerobic capacity, flexibility, body composition, mental health.

Data extraction (selection and coding)

The extraction of information from the articles was performed by two researchers (HB) and (JH). After this stage, the third author (NC) verified the agreements and disagreements of the articles. At this stage, studies that met the inclusion and exclusion criteria were identified. Then, the articles were read in full text. The data obtained were related to the prescription of physical exercise in the mental health of adolescents, through the checklist proposed by PRISMA ScR [21].

Bias risk assessment (Quality)

After data collection, the agreement and disagreement of the content of the articles chosen by the investigators was confronted (HB), (JH), (NC). Discussion and call for the fourth author (AS) were carried out in cases of discrepancy. This avoided the risk of eligibility bias in the articles included. To assess the quality of the articles, we used the TESTEX scale, a tool for evaluating the quality of exercise training studies, which addresses crossover from sedentary control to exercise, periodic adjustment of exercise training intensity with respect to adaptation to physical training, and reporting of exercise program characteristics. It consists of 12 criteria, some of which have more than one possible point, for a maximum score of 15 points (5 points for study quality and 10 for reporting) [22].

Data synthesis strategy

A search strategy was developed for the databases, studies were located from which, when filtering by year, in the first choice of studies was made based on title and abstract and duplicates were discarded. Selection process: a matrix was created in Microsoft Excel and filtered by phases. Phase 1 included: identification, title, abstract, type of study. Phase 2: identification, title, abstract, journal data, type of study, study objective and abstract, including yes/no, reason for exclusion.

A qualitative summary of the studies was carried out in relation to the characteristics of the study population: number of participants, databases, language. Exercise prescription parameters: frequency, duration, intensity, progression, volume, type of exercise and effects of exercise on mental health in aspects such as quality of life, functionality and physical qualities such as muscular strength, aerobic capacity, flexibility, and body composition.

Categories of analysis

Frequency: number of repetitions per unit of time of any periodic process [23,24]. Duration: number of minutes of training required per session [25,26]. Intensity: degree of effort that an exercise demands on the person [27]. Volume: includes the amount of activity performed and includes the distance covered, the number of repetitions of an exercise and duration [28]. Progression: adaptation to effort, intensity, duration, and frequency [29]. Types of exercise: aerobic, flexibility, strength or endurance [30]. Muscle strength: capacity of the muscle to exert tension against a load during muscle contraction [31]. Aerobic capacity: physiologically, it is the ability to produce work using oxygen [32]. Flexibility: capacity of the joints to perform movements with the greatest possible amplitude without causing damage [33]. Body composition: indicator of health and physical condition of individuals [34]. Mental health: a primary good, the psychological preconditions for pursuing any conception of the good life, including well-being [35].

Main results

Physical exercise prescription: components of physical exercise prescription: frequency, duration, intensity, volume, progression, type of exercise, muscle strength. Effects on mental health and other variables such as muscle strength, aerobic capacity, flexibility and body composition.

Strategy for data synthesis

A qualitative summary of the selected articles was applied. A heterogeneous variation in the outcome measures currently used in the prescription of exercise and its effect on mental health in children and adolescents could be executed. Therefore, a narrative synthesis of the included study designs, number of participants, population characteristics, language, study variables, and databases was performed. The data synthesis was carried out following the SWIM guide [36], for synthesis without meta-analysis.

Results

The literature reviewed allowed the registration of 10027 studies from the databases, 3470 duplicate articles were eliminated before the election phase, in total 6557 records were evaluated by title and abstract where 6495 articles were excluded for not meeting the inclusion criteria, leaving 62 articles for full text review, of which 46 were not retrieved, of the 16 studies evaluated in full text for eligibility 9 were excluded. Finally, 7 articles were selected for analysis in this scoping review (Figure 1).

Figure 1.
Prisma flow diagram.

Characteristics of the bibliography

Of the 7 included studies 90% n = (6) were found in the Pubmed database, 57% Controlled Clinical Trials (CCT) n = 4 and 43% Cohort Studies (CS) n = (3). 60% (3) From the European continent, followed by Oceania n = (2) and Asia n = (2), with 20%, respectively. In English language 100% n = (7) (Table 2).

Table 2

Characteristics of the bibliography.

Note. Abbreviations: Controlled Clinical Trial (CCT), Cohort Study (CC), High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT), Muscle Strengthening Exercises (MSE).

General characteristics of the adolescents

The total number of participants was 85,637 with ages ranging from 12.32 (23) to 16.43 (26). Sex was specified in 85,572 subjects of which 50.33% n = (43,071) were male. Additional information on the weight of the participants, as well as inclusion and exclusion criteria are detailed in Table 3.

Table 3

General characteristics of adolescents.

Note. Abbreviations: Not Specified (NS), Not Applicable (NA), Experimental Group (EG), Control Group (CG), Male (M), Female (F), Standard Deviation (SD), Aerobic Exercise Program (AEP), Endurance Exercise Program (EEP), Normal (N), Underweight (UW), Overweight (OW), Obesity (O), Adolescent Healthy Eating Activity and Intervention (AHEAD).

Description of exercise prescription

In the exercise prescription of the 7 included studies, 57.14 % included a control and experimental group, used as type of training: Programmed Physical Education (PPE), Aerobic Exercise Program (AEP), High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) = gross motor cardiorespiratory exercises. Endurance Exercise Program (EEP), HIIT = combination of cardiorespiratory and body weight resistance training exercises, Vigorous Physical Activity (VPA), PPE, and Crossfit. The 42.86% being studies that did not include EG, used as type of training: activities performed during school recess, muscle strengthening exercises, regular physical activity. The intensity was moderate-high in 57.14% n = (4), high in 28.57% n = (2) and in one study it was not specified. The sessions were performed once a day, in 2 articles it was not mentioned. Times per week ranged from 3 to 5; the number of weeks ranged from 8 to 43. The minutes ranged from 10 to 120 per session (Table 4).

Table 4

Description of exercise prescription.

Abbreviations: Non-Specific (NS), High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT), Aerobic Exercise Program (AEP), Endurance Exercise Program (EEP), Vigorous Moderate Physical Activity (VPA), Programmed Physical Education (PFE).

Effects of physical exercise in adolescents

The findings of the measurements made in relation to the variables: mental health, muscle strength, aerobic capacity flexibility and body composition, using different questionnaires, and assessment tools, were captured in Table 5. Mental health was evaluated in 5 studies [37,38,40,41,43], by measuring executive function, flourishing scale (Psychological Well-being), psychological disorder, psychosocial problems, psychological assets, social assets (family connectedness, school connectedness), Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale (WEMWBS), Relational Memory Task, mental component, Skills and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ TDS), SDQ subscale, behavioral problems, hyperactivity, peer problem, and prosocial behavior.

Table 5

Effects of physical exercise in adolescents.

Note. Abbreviations: CG: Control group, EG: Experimental group, M: Male, F: Female, BMI: Body mass index, Kg: Kilograms, cm: Centimeters, m: Meters, AEP: Aerobic Exercise Program, RAP: Endurance Exercise Program, M/WAS: Men Without Academic Stress. M/AS: Men with Academic Stress. F/WAS: Female Without Academic Stress, F/AS: Women with Academic Stress. Min: Minutes. Moderate to Vigorous Physical Activity (MVPA), Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale (WEMWBS), Relational Memory Task, mental component, Skills and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ TDS).

The post-intervention results found were not significant for the study by Costigan et al. [37]. Wassenaar et al. [38] found no P-value specification. Ho et al. [40] found statistically significant post-intervention results in the mental component score and psychological assets (Self-efficacy and resilience). Eather et al. [41] found significance in the physical self-concept test. Meanwhile, Bell et al. [43] was significant for the SDQ subscale, assessment of behavioral problems, and hyperactivity.

Muscle strength was assessed in the study by Ho et al. [40], using standing longitudinal jump test, one-minute push-up test, total grip strength measurements, and one-minute sit-up test. Only the standing longitudinal jump test measured in centimeters was significant after the intervention. 3 of the 7 studies performed aerobic capacity assessment [38-40], by means of 20mrs (Fitness Laps), reaction time task (RT3 ms), physical activity (min/hour/), steps/hour (numbers), VPA (Vigorous Physical Activity) ≥ 3 METs (min/hour), VPA≥ 60% HRmax (min) physical activity level. Of these tests, the ones that yielded statistically significant post-intervention information were Steps/hour (numbers) VPA ≥ 3 METs (min/hour), and physical activity measurement.

The study that evaluated flexibility was the one by Ho et al. [40] with the sit-and-reach test, showing statistically significant results 1 month after the intervention. Body composition was assessed in 2 of the studies, the study by Ho et al. [40] by means of health-related quality of life (BMI score and body fat ratio). Meanwhile, Eather et al. [41] assessed perceived body fatness (at risk and not at risk for psychological distress), neither of these studies showed post-intervention significance.

Methodological quality of the studies

All studies were evaluated with the TESTEX scale described in Table 6. According to the interpretation of the scale, Zhang et al. [42] and Bell et al. [43] obtained a score of 15, Frömel et al. [39] was qualified with 14, Costigan et al. [37] with 13, Ho et al. [40] and Eather et al. [41] rated with 11, respectively, and finally Wassenaar et al. [38] with 10.

Table 6

TESTEX Scale.

Note. TESTEX scale criteria: Study quality (1) Eligibility criteria specified (1 point), (2) Randomization specified (1 point), (3) Allocation concealment (1 point), (4) Groups similar at baseline (1 point), (5) Blinding of assessor (for at least one key outcome) (1 point). Study reporting (6) Outcome measures assessed in 85% of patients (3 points possible), (7) Intention to-treat analysis (1 point), (8) Between-group statistical comparisons reported (2 points possible), (9) Point measures and measures of variability for all reported outcome measures (1 point), (10) Activity monitoring in control groups (1 point), (11) Relative exercise intensity remained constant (1 point), (12) Exercise volume and energy expenditure (1 point). Total out of possible: 15 points.

Discussion

The objective of this scoping review was to identify the most implemented exercises and their prescription, in addition to the effects of exercise on mental health in adolescents. According to the results of 7 studies, with a total of 85,637 participants, there are findings showing that adequate exercise prescription with moderate participation in physical activities with strength exercises, habitual AEP activities, HIIT, gross motor cardiorespiratory exercises, EEP, combination of cardiorespiratory and body weight resistance training exercises, VPA and crossfit, are associated with an increase in general psychological well-being, perceived quality of life and a significant decrease in symptoms of anxiety, depression and stress. Considering that not all the studies and their measurements yielded significant results, it is advisable to conduct more in-depth searches in this field with more representative samples, which will allow reinforcing the scientific evidence that more precisely supports the intervention with respect to the types of exercises, their parameters and prescription. In this way, its positive effect on mental health can be better validated.

It is important to highlight that in our study, 60% of the articles included correspond to the European continent, followed by Asia and Oceania with 20%, respectively. No articles were found from the American continent, and 100% of the articles were in English. In the United States, it has been reported that adolescents between the ages of 12 and 17, 36.7% had persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness, 18.8% seriously considered attempting suicide and 15.1% had a major depressive episode [8]. In Latin America, UNICEF mentions that the latest available estimates suggest that 15 per cent of children and adolescents aged 10-19 in Latin America and the Caribbean, around 16 million, live with a diagnosed mental disorder [44]. This problem, which is not foreign to the American continent, leads to the need to carry out research in this population that promotes strategies such as exercise and physical activity to determine their impact. At the same time, it is important to carry out research in languages such as Spanish or Portuguese, which will allow a greater approach to the scientific community.

It should be noted that our study included a representative population sample with a total of 85,572 adolescents between the ages of 12 and 16, in which the studies of Wassenaar et al. [38] and Zhang et al. [42], contributed the largest number of participants with 16,017 and 67,281 participants, respectively. Similarly, the studies showed a representative sample for each sex, being 50.33% men. In relation to BMI, it was observed in the study of Ho et al. [40] 22% of the experimental group and 20.4% of the control group were overweight. Meanwhile, Zhang et al. [42] reported a 12.3% of overweight population. Kokka et al. [45], in its research entitled Psychiatric Disorders and Obesity in Childhood and Adolescence-A Systematic Review of Cross-Sectional Studies, mention that the obesity and psychiatric disorders have high prevalence and are both considered major health problems. Also, reported as a result of its research a significant relationship between the psychiatric disorder and obesity. These findings justify the need to apply specific interventions such as physical exercise, which has proven to be a strategy for weight reduction and is also an important factor in maintaining adequate mental health in the adolescent population [46],

The study by Åvitsland et al. [47], carried out in Norwegian adolescents, whose objective was to evaluate body composition, muscular strength, cardiorespiratory fitness and their relationship with mental health, also found, like our study, positive results in relation to the effects of exercise on physical qualities and mental health. An association was observed between cardiorespiratory fitness and levels of psychological difficulties in adolescents. The results of this study support that moderate to HIIT in adolescents increases aerobic fitness capacity and may be more conducive to the maintenance of mental health. This is consistent with the study by Mendonça et al. [48], where they found that using moderate and high intensity continuous training with resistance training had a positive effect for health-related physical fitness components in adolescents. As well as the study by Leahy et al [49] where they realized a review of HIIT for cognitive and mental health in youth between 5 and 18 years old, they found that HIIT can improve cognitive function and mental health in children and adolescents.

In our study the types of training mentioned were PPE + habitual activities, AEP, HIIT = gross motor cardiorespiratory exercises, EEP, HIIT= combination of cardiorespiratory resistance and body weight exercises with high intensity, 1 session per day 3 times per week for 8 weeks and 10 minutes per session. Romero et al. [50] conducted a study with children with obesity, based their exercise prescription for 20 consecutive weeks with 2 weekly sessions with a duration per session of 50 min. It should be noted that according to the characteristics and goals set for each individual, the exercise prescription is made on an individual basis.

In our research, it was shown that VPA and HIIT have a positive impact on the mental health of this population, with increased quality of life, decreased mental disorders, stress, anxiety and improvements in the perception of appearance. In addition, they increase aerobic capacity and muscle strength [51]. Dahlstrand et al. [52] carried out a comparison between different types of training which included light, vigorous and very vigorous physical activity, where it was concluded that vigorous physical activity was the best associated with health indicators in terms of mental health. Chmelík et al. [53] exposed that there is a positive and significant association between mental health and vigorous physical activity in adolescents based on a deeper awareness of the association between physical activity and satisfaction with quality of life.

Finally, statistical significance was found in three of the articles included in our study, Ho et al. [40] in the mental component score and psychological assets (Self-efficacy and resilience), Eather et al. [41], in the physical self-concept test, and Bell et al. [43] for the SDQ subscale, assessment of behavioral problems, and hyperactivity. However, as a limitation of the present study, it was found that there is no standardized instrument for measuring mental health in adolescents, which hindered the comparative analysis between variables. According to the study by Orth et al. [54] titled Measuring Mental Wellness of Adolescents: A Systematic Review of Instruments, the review concludes that there is a lack of consensus in the development of instruments for adolescents that measure mental health, many of these instruments are in English and come from developed countries. This leads to a need for a conceptualized and operationalized instrument for adolescents in different contexts.

Limitations

We found that there is a deficiency in the accuracy of studies to describe exercise prescription parameters in greater detail, which include all parameters. A more detailed description would facilitate comparative analysis and would allow providing recommendations with greater specificity for implementation. It was also found that the scales used to assess mental health were different in each of the articles found, which made it difficult to carry out a comparative analysis between them.

As a projection in future research, it is suggested to continue strengthening the scientific evidence regarding the implementation of mental health assessment scales in structured physical exercise programs.

Conclusions

According to the evidence collected physical exercise such as PPE, HIIT and VPA improves mental health in adolescents. Its implementation should be based on the parameters of exercise prescription: intensity, volume, progression, frequency and type of exercise. Moderate to high intensity aerobic exercise programs are most beneficial in reducing symptoms of anxiety, depression, improving self-esteem, quality of life, and body perception.

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank Universidad Santiago de Cali - Colombia, and the Health and Movement Research Group.

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*Correspondence: Nathali Carvajal Tello. Email: nathali.carvajal00@usc.edu.co