Key result
Physical activity did not significantly prevent anxiety in participants without baseline anxiety (SMD -0.18; 95% CI -0.44 to 0.07; p=0.158).
Why the study?
The study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of physical activity in the primary prevention of anxiety.
Does physical activity prevent the incidence of anxiety in individuals without baseline anxiety?
Meta-Analysis (n=350)
Yes
Does physical activity prevent the incidence of anxiety in individuals without baseline anxiety?
Standardized Mean Difference: -0.18 (95% CI -0.44–0.07)
p-value: p=0.158
There is currently no high-quality evidence to support that physical activity prevents the incidence of anxiety in individuals without baseline anxiety.
No support for physical activity preventing anxiety; leaves open need for targeted trials in at-risk groups.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of physical activity in the primary prevention of anxiety. A systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was performed. RCTs were searched in seven electronic databases. We included RCTs that assessed either the incidence of anxiety or the reduction of anxiety symptoms which excluded participants with baseline anxiety. Measurements were required to have been made using validated instruments. Objective or subjective (with validated questionnaires) verification of the performance of physical activity was required. Three reviewers carried out the search, selection, data extraction, and risk assessment of Cochrane Collaboration’s tool simultaneously and independently, reaching an agreement in their discrepancies by consensus. In addition, a meta-analysis of fixed-effects model was carried out. Three RCTs met inclusion criteria, comprising 350 patients from 3 different countries. A meta-analysis was performed using five comparisons extracted from the selected studies, and the pooled standardized mean difference (SMD) was −0.18 (95% CI: −0.44; 0.07), p = 0.158. The heterogeneity was irrelevant, I2 = 17.7% (p = 0.30). There is no evidence that anxiety can be prevented through physical activity, although the quality of evidence was very low.
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Moreno-Peral et al. (2022) conducted a meta-analysis in Anxiety (n=350). Physical activity was evaluated on Incidence of anxiety or reduction of anxiety symptoms (SMD -0.18, 95% CI -0.44 to 0.07, p=0.158). Physical activity did not significantly prevent anxiety in participants without baseline anxiety (SMD -0.18; 95% CI -0.44 to 0.07; p=0.158).
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