A scoping review and narrative synthesis on the relationship between anxiety and physical activity in children and adolescents with disabilities

ABSTRACT

Children and adolescents with disabilities (i.e. a condition that requires ongoing medical attention and combined with societal barriers, limits activities of daily living) may be at greater risk of anxiety. Physical activity has been identified as a strategy to reduce symptoms of anxiety and buffer the severity of anxiety-related symptoms in children and adolescents without disabilities. Evidence on the relationship between anxiety and physical activity in children and adolescents with disabilities is limited. The aim of this review was to summarize and describe literature assessing the relationship between anxiety and physical activity in children and adolescents with disabilities. Five databases were searched from inception to search date. Of the initial 20,063 articles identified, eight met the inclusion criteria to be included in data extraction. The included studies ranged in study design. A small inverse relationship between anxiety and physical activity was described in all eight included studies, indicating higher physical activity levels to be associated with lower anxiety. Future research should use consistent operationalizations and reliable/valid measures of anxiety and physical activity and implement prospective studies to further examine the anxiety-physical activity relationship in children and adolescents with disabilities.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Authors’ contributions

RHO wrote the main manuscript text with feedback provided by SM and KAN. RHO, KR, and LJ conducted the abstract and full-text screening for the included articles. SM and KAN reviewed and resolved disagreements. All authors actively engaged in the review of the manuscript.

Availability of data and materials

The included studies in this review are all available online.

Ethical Approval

This was a scoping review with no human participants. Ethical approval was not required, and consent to participate and publish are not applicable.

Additional information

Funding

RHO is funded by a SSHRC Canada Graduate Scholarship to Honour Nelson Mandela and Sport Participation Research Initiative Supplement.