{
  "abstract": "Objective To update, synthesise and provide meta-analytical evidence of the associations between domain-specific physical activity (PA) and mental health and mental ill-health outcomes.Design Systematic review and multilevel meta-analysis.Data sources In March 2024, we systematically searched five databases.Eligibility criteria Methods employed replicated those of a previous review in 2017. All studies examining associations between domain-specific PA and specified mental health outcomes were included.Results 372 studies met inclusion criteria and 361 were included in the meta-analysis. Across the 372 studies (combined sample size of 3 323 711), 338 examined leisure-time PA, 54 work-related PA, 72 transport-related PA, 44 household PA, 5 school sport and 8 physical education. Multilevel meta-analyses showed that leisure-time PA (r=0.205, 95% CI 0.157 to 0.253), transport-related PA (r=0.138, 95% CI 0.042 to 0.231) and household PA (r=0.096, 95% CI 0.025 to 0.165) were positively associated with mental health. Leisure-time PA (r=−0.149, 95% CI −0.189 to –0.11) and school sport (r=−0.096, 95% CI −0.115 to –0.077) were inversely associated with mental ill health. However, work-related PA (r=0.134 95% CI 0.069 to 0.199) was positively associated with mental ill health.Conclusion The direction of the association between PA and mental health/mental ill health is dependent on the domain in which PA occurs. Promoting PA for leisure purposes is likely to yield the greatest benefits for both promoting mental health and preventing mental ill health. As such, leisure-time PA should be prioritised in messaging, guidelines and interventions/programmes designed to support mental health through PA.PROSPERO registration number CRD42024510303.",
  "authors": [
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN), School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia"
      ],
      "name": "Megan Teychenne"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN), School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia",
        "Laboratory of Hormone Measures, Department of Physiology and Behaviour, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil"
      ],
      "name": "Geovan M Sousa"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN), School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia"
      ],
      "name": "Thea Baker"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "School of Psychology, Faculty of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia",
        "Department of Sport Science, Exercise and Health, School of Human Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia"
      ],
      "name": "Caitlin Liddelow"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Centre for Active Living and Learning, College of Human and Social Futures, The University of Newcastle Australia, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia"
      ],
      "name": "Mark Babic"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Exercise and Sport Science, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA"
      ],
      "name": "Aiden J Chauntry"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Research Institute for Sport and Exercise Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Madeleine France-Ratcliffe"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Translational Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University, Penrith, New South Wales, Australia",
        "School of Health Sciences, Western Sydney University, Penrith, New South Wales, Australia"
      ],
      "name": "Justin Guagliano"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Diabetes, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA"
      ],
      "name": "Hannah E Christie"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Institute for Positive Psychology and Education, Australian Catholic University, North Sydney, New South Wales, Australia"
      ],
      "name": "Ella M Tremaine"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Institute for Positive Psychology and Education, Australian Catholic University, North Sydney, New South Wales, Australia"
      ],
      "name": "Bridget Booker"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Physical Activity, Sport and Exercise Research Theme, Faculty of Health, Southern Cross University, Coffs Harbour, New South Wales, Australia"
      ],
      "name": "Davide Gargioli"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Research Institute for Sport and Exercise Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Daniel J Bannell"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Centre for Active Living and Learning, College of Human and Social Futures, The University of Newcastle Australia, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia"
      ],
      "name": "Ran Bao"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Translational Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University, Penrith, New South Wales, Australia",
        "School of Health Sciences, Western Sydney University, Penrith, New South Wales, Australia"
      ],
      "name": "Cristy Brooks"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Centre for Active Living and Learning, College of Human and Social Futures, The University of Newcastle Australia, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia",
        "Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, New South Wales, Australia"
      ],
      "name": "David R Lubans"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Physical Activity, Sport and Exercise Research Theme, Faculty of Health, Southern Cross University, Coffs Harbour, New South Wales, Australia",
        "Manna Institute, Southern Cross University, Coffs Harbour, New South Wales, Australia"
      ],
      "name": "Christian Swann"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "School of Psychology, Faculty of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia",
        "Movember Foundation, Richmond, Victoria, Australia"
      ],
      "name": "Stewart A Vella"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Institute for Positive Psychology and Education, Australian Catholic University, North Sydney, New South Wales, Australia"
      ],
      "name": "Chris Lonsdale"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia"
      ],
      "name": "Alexandre Bergamo dos Santos"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "School of Health Sciences, Western Sydney University, Penrith, New South Wales, Australia"
      ],
      "name": "Rhiannon L White"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Domain-specific physical activity and mental health: an updated systematic review and multilevel meta-analysis in a combined sample of 3.3 million people",
  "uid": "1aba59b5-1325-5f3d-ac97-2324596b7f56"
}