The parameters within the research question were purposefully broad in order to generate wide coverage. This is appropriate given that evidence regarding the impact of PA/exercise interventions as a treatment for mental health outcomes in young people is emerging and it is still unclear what other, more specific questions can be posed and valuably addressed by a more precise systematic review. Indeed, scoping reviews are an appropriate tool to determine the scope or coverage of a body of literature on a given topic as well as give clear indication of the volume of literature and studies available.
This review addressed the following research question: What is known from the existing literature about the effectiveness of PA/exercise interventions as a treatment for mental health outcomes in young people? We therefore have selected to conduct a scoping review, the general purpose of which is to identify and map the available evidence. We aim to address this gap by providing a comprehensive overview of the evidence for PA and exercise interventions across all mental disorders affecting young people and explore opportunities for translating these interventions into clinical practice.
23 The majority of existing studies in youth mental health have focused on depression symptoms, and have shown that PA and exercise appear to improve symptoms (eg, see ref 24 for an overview of the youth mental health evidence base). 19–22 The benefits of PA and exercise on mental health, however, have not been well studied in adolescents and young adults, who are experiencing a unique developmental and neurodevelopmental period. The benefits of PA, defined as any bodily movement produced by skeletal muscles that results in energy expenditure, and exercise, defined as the planned, structured and repetitive undertaking of PA for the purposes of maintaining or improving health or skill-related components of physical fitness, 17 18 have been well studied in adults. 15 PA and exercise also have appeared effective to the general public as an intervention for improving mental health. PA and exercise are low risk, acceptable and have less stigma attached to them as a treatment modality, in comparison to counselling or psychotherapy, which is important to young people.
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