DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.184896.1 ISSN: 2046-1402

Effectiveness of Physical Activity Interventions on Mental Health Outcomes in Natural Disaster Survivors: A Systematic Review of Proximal and Complex Effects

Widia Aningsih, Jeanette Silvia Mataheru, Ananda Anis Saputri, Wiwin Kurniawati, Sheila Rizkia Anjari, Aisha Rizqa Aulia, Anindya Fathy Andarlita, Salma Pathul Jannah, Muhammad Sabilul Firdaus, Eviadi Lestari
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Backgrounds Natural disasters pose significant challenges to mental health, yet effective and scalable strategies to support psychosocial recovery remain limited. This study aimed to systematically examine the effects of physical activity, exercise, and sport-based interventions on mental health and psychosocial outcomes among disaster-affected populations, as well as to identify key characteristics of these interventions. Methods A systematic literature review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines, using Scopus and PubMed databases. The review protocol was prospectively registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO; CRD420261424835) Seven studies met the inclusion criteria, comprising randomized controlled trials, quasi-experimental studies, and qualitative studies. Results The findings indicate that physical activity interventions, particularly sport-based and game-based approaches delivered in group settings were consistently associated with improvements in psychological well-being and psychosocial functioning. A consistent pattern was observed in which reductions in anxiety were accompanied by improvements in sleep quality, suggesting interconnected psychological and physiological effects. However, findings related to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were inconsistent, and no significant improvements were observed in quality of life (QoL). These variations appear to be influenced by differences in intervention characteristics, participant profiles, and contextual factors. Conclusions Overall, physical activity interventions demonstrated greater effectiveness in improving proximal psychological outcomes, such as anxiety, sleep quality, and well-being, compared to more complex outcomes such as PTSD and QoL. These findings highlight the need for more comprehensive, multi-component approaches when targeting multidimensional aspects of mental health in post-disaster contexts. Integrating physical activity into disaster recovery programs may provide a practical and evidence-based strategy to support psychosocial well-being and resilience.

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