Physical activity linked to better adolescent mental health and resilience, with resilience as a key mechanism

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Frontiers in Medicine Published June 4, 2026 Medically reviewed June 4, 2026 Study authors: Li Zhuang, Qiuju Wang, Yan Liu, Yijie Shi, Rujun Lv, Junping Liang, Ying Zhou, Mariusz Lipowski DOI ↗ By Dr. Ji-eun Park, MD · Brain, Mind & Pain

Key Takeaway

Consider physical activity as a scalable strategy to support adolescent mental health, noting resilience as a potential mechanism.

This is a narrative synthesis of observational cohorts and intervention trials examining physical activity and mental health in adolescents aged approximately 10 to 19 years from community and at-risk samples. The authors synthesized evidence that higher physical activity levels were generally associated with better mental health outcomes and greater resilience. In 10 studies that formally tested mediation, all reported significant indirect effects, suggesting resilience or related psychosocial pathways may be involved.

The authors acknowledge key limitations, including heterogeneity in study designs and measures, the need for longitudinal and causal designs, the need for harmonized measurement of resilience and outcomes, and the need for equity-focused implementation. They note that current evidence is based on observational cohorts and intervention trials with heterogeneity in designs, and future longitudinal and causal designs are needed to determine causality.

Practice relevance is restrained; the authors suggest physical activity may be a scalable strategy to promote adolescent mental health, with resilience as a central mechanism. Programs emphasizing mastery, social connection, and supportive climates may maximize gains, but this is a qualitative conclusion from the synthesis.

Study Details

Study typeMeta analysis

EvidenceLevel 1

PublishedJun 2026

View Original Abstract ↓

Adolescent mental health remains a global priority. Recent studies suggest that physical activity (PA) benefits mental health in youth, with psychological resilience increasingly recognized as a key explanatory pathway. This systematic review synthesizes recent evidence published between January 2022 and December 2025 on the relationships among physical activity, resilience, and adolescent mental health. Adolescents (approximately ages 10–19) from observational cohorts and intervention trials in community and at-risk samples included in the reviewed literature. Following PRISMA guidance, we systematically searched PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, PsycINFO, and SPORTDiscus (January 2022–December 2025) using terms for PA, resilience, and adolescent mental health; reference lists were hand-searched. Eligible studies were quantitative and examined PA with resilience and mental health outcomes in adolescents. We conducted a best-evidence narrative synthesis given heterogeneity in designs and measures. Across the reviewed evidence, higher physical activity levels were generally associated with better mental health outcomes and greater resilience in adolescents. A total of 10 studies formally tested mediation involving resilience or related psychosocial pathways, and all reported significant indirect effects. Current evidence supports PA as a scalable strategy to promote adolescent mental health, with resilience as a central mechanism. Programs that emphasize mastery, social connection, and supportive climates are likely to maximize gains. Future work should prioritize longitudinal/causal designs, harmonized measurement of resilience and outcomes, and equity-focused implementation to determine for whom and under what conditions PA most effectively fosters mental well-being.