A scoping review and narrative synthesis on the relationship between anxiety and physical activity in children and adolescents with disabilities

Abstract

Children and adolescents with disabilities (i.e. a condition that requires ongoing medical attention and combined with societal barriers, limits activities of daily living) may be at greater risk of anxiety. Physical activity has been identified as a strategy to reduce symptoms of anxiety and buffer the severity of anxiety-related symptoms in children and adolescents without disabilities. Evidence on the relationship between anxiety and physical activity in children and adolescents with disabilities is limited. The aim of this review was to summarize and describe literature assessing the relationship between anxiety and physical activity in children and adolescents with disabilities. Five databases were searched from inception to search date. Of the initial 20,063 articles identified, eight met the inclusion criteria to be included in data extraction. The included studies ranged in study design. A small inverse relationship between anxiety and physical activity was described in all eight included studies, indicating higher physical activity levels to be associated with lower anxiety. Future research should use consistent operationalizations and reliable/valid measures of anxiety and physical activity and implement prospective studies to further examine the anxiety-physical activity relationship in children and adolescents with disabilities.