Meta-analysis of physical activity on the improvement of health-related quality of life among children and adolescents

LIU Shanjie; LI Gai; SONG Yunfeng; OUYANG Lingqing; XU Chi

doi:10.16835/j.cnki.1000-9817.2025192

Volume 46 Issue 6

Jun. 2025

Turn off MathJax

Article Contents

Article Navigation > CHINESE JOURNAL OF SCHOOL HEALTH > 2025 > 46(6): 806-810

LIU Shanjie, LI Gai, SONG Yunfeng, OUYANG Lingqing, XU Chi. Meta-analysis of physical activity on the improvement of health-related quality of life among children and adolescents[J]. CHINESE JOURNAL OF SCHOOL HEALTH, 2025, 46(6): 806-810. doi: 10.16835/j.cnki.1000-9817.2025192

Citation:

LIU Shanjie, LI Gai, SONG Yunfeng, OUYANG Lingqing, XU Chi. Meta-analysis of physical activity on the improvement of health-related quality of life among children and adolescents[J]. CHINESE JOURNAL OF SCHOOL HEALTH, 2025, 46(6): 806-810. doi: 10.16835/j.cnki.1000-9817.2025192

Citation:

LIU Shanjie, LI Gai, SONG Yunfeng, OUYANG Lingqing, XU Chi. Meta-analysis of physical activity on the improvement of health-related quality of life among children and adolescents[J]. CHINESE JOURNAL OF SCHOOL HEALTH, 2025, 46(6): 806-810. doi: 10.16835/j.cnki.1000-9817.2025192

PDF( 704 KB)

Meta-analysis of physical activity on the improvement of health-related quality of life among children and adolescents

doi: 10.16835/j.cnki.1000-9817.2025192

1.
Key Laboratory of Selection and Functional Assessment of Athletes, General Administration of Sport (Hubei Institute of Sports Science), Wuhan (430205), Hubei Province, China

Received Date: 2025-03-20
Rev Recd Date: 2025-04-15

Available Online: 2025-07-04

Publish Date: 2025-06-25

Abstract

Abstract

Objective To systematically review the effect of physical activity (PA) on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among children and adolescents and the magnitude of association, so as to provide an evidence-based support for optimizing health promotion strategies for children and adolescents. Methods Medline (PubMed), EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, SCIELO, PEDro, CNKI, Wanfang and VIP databases were searched to collect literature on PA and HRQoL in children and adolescents, which were published up to January 1, 2025. Cochrane ROB tool and specific evaluation system were used to assess literature quality, Stata 16.0 software was used for Meta-analysis. For descriptive studies, correlation(r) and 95% confidence interval(CI) were used as effect indicators, and the inverse variance method was used to merge the data. Standardized mean difference(SMD) and 95%CI were used to calculate the combined effect size of intervention studies. Results A total of 22 studies involving 27 303 healthy children and adolescents were included, including 9 descriptive studies and 13 intervention studies. The results of descriptive analysis showed that PA level was positively correlated with HRQoL (r=0.27, 95%CI=0.21-0.32, P < 0.01). The analysis of intervention studies showed that PA had significant effects on overall HRQoL (SMD=0.10, 95%CI=0.05-0.16), physical functioning (SMD=0.16, 95%CI=0.08-0.23), and mental functioning (SMD=0.17, 95%CI=0.10-0.25)(P < 0.01). Subgroup analysis found that the effects of physical activity on overall HRQoL, physiological function, and psychological function in children and adolescents were maximized when the intervention duration was less than 6 months (SMD=0.13, 0.18, 0.20), the frequency was≥5 times per week (SMD=0.13, 0.19, 0.24) and there was a supplementary plan(SMD=0.10, 0.18, 0.23)(P < 0.01). Conclusion PA is an important factor affecting the HRQoL of healthy children and adolescents, and the systematic PA intervention has a effect on improving the HRQoL.
- Motor activity,
- Quality of life,
- Health promotion,
- Meta-analysis,
- Child,
- Adolescent

FullText(HTML)

References(38)

References

[1]	TAN S Y X, PADMAPRIYA N, BERNARD J Y, et al. Cross-sectional and prospective associations between children's 24-h time use and their health-related quality of life: a compositional isotemporal substitution approach[J]. Lancet Reg Health West Pac, 2023, 41: 100918.
[2]	BREHENY K, PASSMORE S, ADAB P, et al. Effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of the daily mile on childhood weight outcomes and wellbeing: a cluster randomised controlled trial[J]. Int J Obes (Lond), 2020, 44(4): 812-822. doi: 10.1038/s41366-019-0511-0
[3]	BERMEJO-CANTARERO A, SANCHEZ-LOPEZ M, ALVAREZ-BUENO C, et al. Are physical activity interventions effective in improving health-related quality of life in children and adolescents? A systematic review and Meta-analysis[J]. Sports Health, 2024, 16(6): 877-885. doi: 10.1177/19417381231190885
[4]	LE N, BELAY Y B, LE L K, et al. Health-related quality of life in children, adolescents and young adults with self-harm or suicidality: a systematic review[J]. Aust N Z J Psychiatry, 2023, 57(7): 952-965. doi: 10.1177/00048674231165477
[5]	TEUBER M, LEYHR D, SUDECK G. Physical activity improves stress load, recovery, and academic performance-related parameters among university students: a longitudinal study on daily level[J]. BMC Public Health, 2024, 24(1): 598. doi: 10.1186/s12889-024-18082-z
[6]	MARQUEZ D X, AGUIAGA S, VÁSQUEZ P M, et al. A systematic review of physical activity and quality of life and well-being[J]. Transl Behav Med, 2020, 10(5): 1098-1109. doi: 10.1093/tbm/ibz198
[7]	WU X Y, HAN L H, ZHANG J H, et al. The influence of physical activity, sedentary behavior on health-related quality of life among the general population of children and adolescents: a systematic review[J]. PLoS One, 2017, 12(11): e0187668. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0187668
[8]	TIKAC G, UNAL A, ALTUG F. Regular exercise improves the levels of self-efficacy, self-esteem and body awareness of young adults[J]. J Sports Med Phys Fitness, 2021, 62(1): 157-161.
[9]	HUTTON B, SALANTI G, CALDWELL D M, et al. The PRISMA extension statement for reporting of systematic reviews incorporating network Meta-analyses of health care interventions: checklist and explanations[J]. Ann Intern Med, 2015, 162: 777-784. doi: 10.7326/M14-2385
[10]	HIGGINS J, THOMAS J, CHANDLER J, et al. Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions Version 6.5[EB/OL].(2024-08-22)[2025-01-01]. https://training.cochrane.org/handbook.
[11]	LUNDAHL B W, KUNZ C, BROWNELL C, et al. A Meta-analysis of motivational interviewing: twenty-five years of empirical studies[J]. Res Soc Work Pract, 2010, 20(2): 137-160. doi: 10.1177/1049731509347850
[12]	BOYLE S E, JONES G L, WALTERS S J. Physical activity, quality of life, weight status and diet in adolescents[J]. Qual Life Res, 2010, 19: 943-954. doi: 10.1007/s11136-010-9659-8
[13]	DONG X, DING M, CHEN W, et al. Relationship between smoking, physical activity, screen time, and quality of life among adolescents[J]. Int J Environ Res Public Health, 2020, 17(21): 8043. doi: 10.3390/ijerph17218043
[14]	GU X, SOLMON M A. Motivational processes in children's physical activity and health-related quality of life[J]. Phys Educ Sport Pedagogy, 2016, 21(4): 407-424. doi: 10.1080/17408989.2015.1017456
[15]	HA A S, NG J Y Y. Autonomous motivation predicts 7-day physical activity in Hong Kong students[J]. Appl Psychol Health Well Being, 2015, 7(2): 214-229. doi: 10.1111/aphw.12045
[16]	JALALI-FARAHANI S, AMIRI P, CHIN Y S. Are physical activity, sedentary behaviors and sleep duration associated with body mass index-for-age and health-related quality of life among high school boys and girls?[J]. Health Qual Life Outcomes, 2016, 14: 30. doi: 10.1186/s12955-016-0434-6
[17]	MICHELS N, SUSI K, MARQUES-VIDAL P M, et al. Psychosocial quality-of-life, lifestyle and adiposity: a longitudinal study in pre-schoolers (Ballabeina study)[J]. Int J Behav Med, 2016, 23: 383-392. doi: 10.1007/s12529-016-9537-z
[18]	SPENGLER S, WOLL A. The more physically active, the healthier? The relationship between physical activity and health-related quality of life in adolescents: the MoMo study[J]. J Phys Act Health, 2013, 10(5): 708-715. doi: 10.1123/jpah.10.5.708
[19]	STANDAGE M, GILLISON F B, NTOUMANIS N, et al. Predicting students' physical activity and health-related well-being: a prospective cross-domain investigation of motivation across school physical education and exercise settings[J]. J Sport Exerc Psychol, 2012, 34(1): 37-60. doi: 10.1123/jsep.34.1.37
[20]	WOODS J D. NOURISH-C: implementing a family based weight loss intervention in a church community[M]. Richmond, VA: Virginia Commonwealth University, 2015.
[21]	BRESLIN G, SHANNON S, RAFFERTY R, et al. The effect of sport for LIFE: all island in children from low socio-economic status: a clustered randomized controlled trial[J]. Health Qual Life Outcomes, 2019, 17: 1-12. doi: 10.1186/s12955-018-1072-y
[22]	CASEY M M, HARVEY J T, TELFORD A, et al. Effectiveness of a school-community linked program on physical activity levels and health-related quality of life for adolescent girls[J]. BMC Public Health, 2014, 14: 649. doi: 10.1186/1471-2458-14-649
[23]	GALL S, WALTER C, DU RANDT R, et al. Changes in self-reported physical activity predict health-related quality of life among South African schoolchildren: findings from the DASH intervention trial[J]. Front Public Health, 2020, 8: 492618. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2020.492618
[24]	HA A S, BURNETT A, SUM R, et al. Outcomes of the rope skipping 'STAR' programme for schoolchildren[J]. J Hum Kinet, 2015, 45: 233-240. doi: 10.1515/hukin-2015-0024
[25]	KRIEMLER S, ZAHNER L, SCHINDLER C, et al. Effect of school based physical activity programme (KISS) on fitness and adiposity in primary schoolchildren: cluster randomised controlled trial[J]. BMJ, 2010, 340: c785. doi: 10.1136/bmj.c785
[26]	KVALØ S E, NATLANDSMYR I K. The effect of physical-activity intervention on children's health-related quality of life[J]. Scand J Public Health, 2021, 49(5): 539-545. doi: 10.1177/1403494820971493
[27]	MEYER U, SCHINDLER C, ZAHNER L, et al. Long-term effect of a school-based physical activity program (KISS) on fitness and adiposity in children: a cluster-randomized controlled trial[J]. PLoS One, 2014, 9(2): e87929. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0087929
[28]	NAGPAL T S, GOLDFIELD G S, DA SILVA D F, et al. The effects of intervening with physical activity in the early years (ages 3-5) on health-related quality of life: a secondary analysis of the Activity Begins in Childhood (ABC) trial[J]. Qual Life Res, 2021, 30: 221-227. doi: 10.1007/s11136-020-02587-2
[29]	PUDER J J, MARQUES-VIDAL P, SCHINDLER C, et al. Effect of multidimensional lifestyle intervention on fitness and adiposity in predominantly migrant preschool children (Ballabeina): cluster randomised controlled trial[J]. BMJ, 2011, 343: d6195. doi: 10.1136/bmj.d6195
[30]	RESALAND G K, AADLAND E, MOE V F, et al. Effects of a physical activity intervention on schoolchildren's health-related quality of life: the active smarter kids (ASK) cluster-randomized controlled trial[J]. Prev Med Rep, 2019, 13: 1-4. doi: 10.1016/j.pmedr.2018.11.002
[31]	TRUELOVE S, JOHNSON A M, VANDERLOO L M, et al. Preschoolers' health-related quality of life following the implementation of a childcare physical activity intervention[J]. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab, 2018, 43(5): 453-459. doi: 10.1139/apnm-2017-0396
[32]	ANDERMO S, HELLÉNIUS M L, LIDIN M, et al. Effectiveness of a family intervention on health-related quality of life: a healthy generation, a controlled pilot trial[J]. BMC Public Health, 2020, 20(1): 809. doi: 10.1186/s12889-020-08895-z
[33]	CONTARDO AYALA A M, PARKER K, MAZZOLI E, et al. Effectiveness of intervention strategies to increase adolescents' physical activity and reduce sedentary time in secondary school settings, including factors related to implementation: a systematic review and Meta-analysis[J]. Sports Med Open, 2024, 10(1): 25. doi: 10.1186/s40798-024-00688-7
[34]	DOBBINS M, HUSSON H, DECORBY K, et al. School-based physical activity programs for promoting physical activity and fitness in children and adolescents aged 6 to 18[J]. Cochrane Database Syst Rev, 2013 (2): CD007651.
[35]	LUBANS D, RICHARDS J, HILLMAN C, et al. Physical activity for cognitive and mental health in youth: a systematic review of mechanisms[J]. Pediatrics, 2016, 138(3): e20161642. doi: 10.1542/peds.2016-1642
[36]	湾明月, 夏锐, 林慧颖, 等. 身体活动对大脑可塑性影响的研究进展[J]. 中国康复理论与实践, 2020, 26(9): 1071-1075. doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1006-9771.2020.09.013 WAN M Y, XIA R, LIN H Y, et al. Advance in physical activity for brain plasticity[J]. Chin J Rehabil Theory Pract, 2020, 26(9): 1071-1075. (in Chinese) doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1006-9771.2020.09.013
[37]	ZHENG M, RANGAN A, OLSEN N J, et al. Longitudinal association of nighttime sleep duration with emotional and behavioral problems in early childhood: results from the Danish Healthy Start Study[J]. Sleep, 2021, 44(1): zsaa138. doi: 10.1093/sleep/zsaa138
[38]	CHAUHAN S, NORBURY R, FAβBENDER K C, et al. Beyond sleep: a multidimensional model of chronotype[J]. Neurosci Biobehav Rev, 2023, 148: 105114. doi: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105114