Physical Exercise in the Mental Health of Schoolchildren during and after the COVID-19 Pandemic
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant negative impact on the mental health, quality of life, and levels of physical activity of children and adolescents. This study aimed to evaluate the main scientific evidence regarding the effects of physical exercise on the mental health of schoolchildren during and after the pandemic. This integrative review was conducted through searches in the PubMed, Cochrane, and Virtual Health Library databases, covering studies published over the last five years in English, Spanish, and Portuguese, using the descriptors “physical activity,” “exercise,” “mental health,” and “Covid-19.” Initially, 288 articles were identified; 15 were preselected, and 6 met the eligibility criteria according to the guiding research question. The available evidence suggests that physical exercise represents an effective intervention strategy, positively impacting the mental health of school-aged children and adolescents during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.
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