Effects of physical exercise on aggressive behavior in children and adolescents: a systematic review and meta-analysis
- Forfatter(e)
- Zhao, H. P., Wang, Y.
- År
- 2025
- Tidsskrift
- Bmc Public Health
- Volum
- 25
- Sider
- 13
- Kategori(er)
- Atferdsproblemer, antisosial atferd og atferdsforstyrrelser
- Tiltakstype(r)
- Fysisk aktivitet
- Abstract
Background
Physical exercise is recognized as a cost-effective intervention for mitigating aggressive behavior; however, its impact on aggression in children and adolescents remains inconclusive. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of physical exercise on aggressive behavior in this population and to perform subgroup analyses to examine potential moderating factors.
Methods
We searched five databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, EBSCOhost, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI)) for studies published up to December 25, 2024, that tested physical activity programs for reducing aggression in children and teenagers. The methodological quality of the included studies was assessed using the Cochrane risk of bias tool. The standardized mean difference (SMD) was calculated as the outcome indicator, which was based on the mean and standard deviation (SD) of the aggression scores before and after the physical exercise intervention. The data were analyzed with RevMan 5.4 and Stata 15 software using a random effects model.
Results
Eighteen studies involving 2,479 participants were included. The meta-analysis demonstrated a significant reduction in overall aggressive behavior following physical exercise [ SMD = - 0.55 , 95% confidence interval (CI) (-0.89, -0.21), P < 0.01I Significant reductions in physical aggression [SMD = - 0.56, 9596Cl(- 0.81, - 0.32)] anger [ SMD = - 0.45 , 95% CI (-0.68, -0.22)], and hostility [SMD = -0.46, 95% CI (-0.68, -0.24)] were observed, but verbal aggression showed no significant change [ SMD = - 0.28 , 95% CI (-0.62, 0.06)]. Subgroup analyses of exercise intervention characteristics and participant demographics revealed significantly greater reductions in aggressive behavior with ball sports [SMD = -1.04, 95% CI (-1.46, -0.61)], noncontact group-based instruction [SMD = - 1.18, 9596Cl(- 1.64, - 0.73)] exercise duration of 8-16 weeks [SMD = - 1.03, 9596Cl(- 1.57, - 0.5)] and a session length of 30-60 min [ SMD = - 1.03 , 95% CI (-1.61, -0.45)]. Participants with higher baseline aggression levels exhibited significantly greater reductions in aggressive behavior [SMD-0.72, 95% CI (-1.22, -0.23)].
Conclusions
Physical exercise significantly reduces aggressive behavior in children and adolescents. These reductions are moderated by the characteristics of the exercise interventions and participant demographics.