Physical Activity and Sleep Disorder with Depressive Symptoms in Adolescents : A Systematic Review

Authors

  • Paramitha Amelia Kusumawardani Universitas Muhammadiyah Sidoarjo
  • Saowaros Pungzup Department of Obstetric and Gynaecological Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, University Mahidol, Thailand
  • Evi Rinata Department of Midwifery, Faculty Health of Science, Universitas Muhammadiyah Sidoarjo, Sidoarjo, Indonesia
  • Effy Wardati Maryam Department of Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Education, Universitas Muhammadiyah Sidoarjo, Indonesia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.19184/nlj.v10i1.53698

Keywords:

Adolescents, Depressive symptoms, physical activity, sleep disorder, mental health

Abstract

Depressive symptoms in adolescents are a growing global concern, with physical activity and sleep behaviors increasingly recognized as significant, modifiable factors influencing mental health outcomes. This systematic review aimed to investigate the combined association of physical activity and sleep disorders with depressive symptoms among adolescents. The review included 18 primary studies conducted between 2017 and 2023, involving a total of 102,376 adolescents aged 12 to 18 years from 13 different countries. Using the PRISMA guidelines, databases including EMBASE, OvidMedline, CINAHL, and SCOPUS were systematically searched for eligible peer-reviewed articles. The included studies comprised cross-sectional, cohort, longitudinal, prospective, and randomized controlled trial designs. Physical activity was measured through self-reported surveys, school-based records, and objective devices such as accelerometers and Actiwatch, while sleep duration and quality were assessed via self-reports and actigraphy. Depressive symptoms were evaluated using validated instruments such as the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI/BDI-II). The majority of studies indicated that adolescents with both low levels of physical activity and inadequate sleep had significantly higher levels of depressive symptoms compared to those meeting recommended guidelines for both behaviors. The findings highlight the synergistic relationship between these two lifestyle factors and their impact on adolescent mental health. This review underscores the importance of integrated interventions that promote both physical activity and healthy sleep habits to prevent or reduce depressive symptoms among adolescents. For nursing practice, these results emphasize the need for holistic health promotion strategies that include routine assessment of sleep and physical activity, patient education on behavioral health, and the development of targeted interventions to support adolescent mental well-being.

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Author Biography

Paramitha Amelia Kusumawardani, Universitas Muhammadiyah Sidoarjo

Department of Midwifery, Faculty Health of Sciences

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Published

2025-06-03

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Vol. 10 No. 1 (2025): May 2025

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Articles

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