Contribuições da atividade física na prevenção e tratamento da depressão e ansiedade: estudo narrativo

Abstract

Introduction: Regular physical activity is widely recognized for its positive impacts on physical and mental health, and is an effective strategy for preventing and treating disorders such as depression and anxiety. Objective: to identify whether physical activity contributes to the prevention and reduction of depressive and anxious symptoms. Methodology: this study is a narrative review of the literature, using the Virtual Health Library (BVS), Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO), and the United States National Library of Medicine (PubMed) databases. Six articles published between 2018 and 2024 were selected. Results: indicated that physical exercise promotes significant improvements in quality of life, social interaction, and emotional control, as well as depressive and anxious symptoms. Physical activity is essential for students' mental health, being associated with lower rates of anxiety and depression, especially among university students with high levels of physical activity. Students in courses that encourage exercise, such as Physical Education, showed improved mental health, while physical inactivity was associated with increased negative emotional symptoms. During the COVID-19 pandemic, social isolation increased physical inactivity, which worsened symptoms of anxiety and depression, especially in students. Despite this, in high school, the school environment and physical education classes contributed to protecting mental health, promoting socialization and emotional balance. Outside the pandemic, group physical activities, especially in the school context, were associated with improved social interaction and reduced symptoms of anxiety and depression. Conclusion: in addition to preventing the onset of mental disorders, physical exercise can be integrated into rehabilitation and health promotion strategies, reinforcing its importance in comprehensive mental health care. Finally, the results reaffirm the importance of encouraging public policies and health strategies that promote and encourage physical activity, regardless of the type of physical exercise, considering its role not only in the prevention and treatment of mental and emotional disorders, but also in improving the overall health of the population.