Key result
Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity reduces depression and anxiety symptoms ~20-35% among young adults.
Why the study?
Physical activity interventions improve mental health outcomes across various populations, but limited research specifically examines these effects among young adults living in Nairobi, Kenya.
Do physical activity interventions improve mental health indicators in young adults in Nairobi?
Systematic Review
Do physical activity interventions improve mental health indicators in young adults in Nairobi?
Effect estimate: Reduction in symptoms between 20% and 35%
Physical activity interventions of at least 150 minutes per week of moderate-to-vigorous activity appear to reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety by 20-35% among young adults in Nairobi.
May support PA interventions for mental health in Nairobi young adults; extends global literature but leaves open questions due to study variability.
Physical activity (PA) interventions have been shown to improve mental health outcomes in various populations. However, limited research exists specifically examining these effects among young adults living in Nairobi, Kenya. A comprehensive literature search was conducted using databases such as PubMed and Google Scholar. Studies published between and were included, focusing on randomized controlled trials (RCTs) examining the impact of PA interventions on mental health indicators among young adults in Nairobi. The review identified a consistent trend towards positive effects of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) sessions lasting at least 150 minutes per week. Participants showed an improvement in symptoms of depression and anxiety, with reductions ranging from 20% to 35% across studies. PA interventions appear to be a promising strategy for mitigating mental health issues among young adults in Nairobi, though variability exists between study designs and participant demographics. Future research should explore personalized PA programmes tailored to specific populations within Nairobi's diverse youth demographic. Longitudinal studies are also recommended to assess the sustained benefits of PA interventions over time. Physical Activity, Mental Health, Young Adults, Nairobi, Kenya Treatment effect was estimated with logit(pᵢ)=β₀+β^ Xᵢ, and uncertainty reported using confidence-interval based inference.
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Oginga Kinyanjui (2003) conducted a systematic review in Young adults living in Nairobi, Kenya with symptoms of depression and anxiety. Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) was evaluated on Improvement in symptoms of depression and anxiety (Reduction in symptoms between 20% and 35%). Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity sessions of at least 150 minutes per week reduced symptoms of depression and anxiety by 20% to 35% among young adults in Nairobi.
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