SynthesisBMC public health2025
Effects of physical exercise on aggressive behavior in children and adolescents: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Synthesis in BMC public health, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
3 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Effects of different types of physical exercise interventions on aggressive behavior among children and adolescents: a network meta-analysis.Frontiers in psychology · 2026Pooled it
- Longitudinal reciprocal associations between physical exercise and aggressive behavior in adolescents: a cross-lagged analysis.Frontiers in public health · 2026Article
- The indirect effect of physical activity on aggression among university student-athletes: the mediating role of state anger.Frontiers in psychology · 2026Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
2 authors.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundPhysical exercise is recognized as a cost-effective intervention for mitigating aggressive behavior; however, its impact on aggression in children and adolescents remains inconclusive. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of physical exercise on aggressive behavior in this population and to perform subgroup analyses to examine potential moderating factors.
methodsWe searched five databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, EBSCOhost, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI)) for studies published up to December 25, 2024, that tested physical activity programs for reducing aggression in children and teenagers. The methodological quality of the included studies was assessed using the Cochrane risk of bias tool. The standardized mean difference (SMD) was calculated as the outcome indicator, which was based on the mean and standard deviation (SD) of the aggression scores before and after the physical exercise intervention. The data were analyzed with RevMan 5.4 and Stata 15 software using a random effects model.
resultsEighteen studies involving 2,479 participants were included. The meta-analysis demonstrated a significant reduction in overall aggressive behavior following physical exercise [SMD = -0.55, 95% confidence interval (CI) (-0.89, -0.21), P < 0.01]. Significant reductions in physical aggression [SMD = -0.56, 95% CI (-0.81, -0.32)], anger [SMD = -0.45, 95% CI (-0.68, -0.22)], and hostility [SMD = -0.46, 95% CI (-0.68, -0.24)] were observed, but verbal aggression showed no significant change [SMD = -0.28, 95% CI (-0.62, 0.06)]. Subgroup analyses of exercise intervention characteristics and participant demographics revealed significantly greater reductions in aggressive behavior with ball sports [SMD = -1.04, 95% CI (-1.46, -0.61)], noncontact group-based instruction [SMD = -1.18, 95% CI (-1.64, -0.73)], exercise duration of 8–16 weeks [SMD = -1.03, 95% CI (-1.57, -0.50)], and a session length of 30–60 min [SMD = -1.03, 95% CI (-1.61, -0.45)]. Participants with higher baseline aggression levels exhibited significantly greater reductions in aggressive behavior [SMD = -0.72, 95% CI (-1.22, -0.23)].
conclusionsPhysical exercise significantly reduces aggressive behavior in children and adolescents. These reductions are moderated by the characteristics of the exercise interventions and participant demographics.
trial registrationThe study protocol was prospectively registered with PROSPERO (registration number: CRD420251038714).
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