Impact of structured physical activity on youth’s mental health: A review of umbrella reviews

We suggest that structured PA has promising effects on youth's mental health although more evidence needs to be gathered. Indeed, although most of the umbrella reviews were of high quality, some methodological weaknesses of primary studies were noted, such as the large data heterogeneity, which, if not adequately addressed, can lead to results that underestimate the complexity of applying PA in clinical practice. Future RCT studies are needed to verify the effectiveness of rigorous PA programs on selected psychopathologies, allowing to expand the current evidence-based recommendations and guidelines, tailoring interventions comprising sport and physical activity to the specific needs of youth.