Programs Promoting Physical Activity and Social-Emotional Learning for Adolescents: A Systematic Literature Review

BACKGROUNDSocial-emotional learning (SEL) and physical activity (PA) are beneficial for adolescent development. This review aims to describe educational programs that promote SEL and PA simultaneously among adolescents.METHODSA search was conducted using electronic databases in 2023 (eg, PubMed, Web of Science, PsycINFO, ERIC) eliciting 5226 articles. Studies were included (n = 5) if they: (1) evaluated a program that promotes both SEL and PA among adolescents; (2) included adolescents aged 10-19 years old; (3) reported outcomes related to SEL and PA; (4) used a quasi-experimental or experimental design; (5) were published in English within the last 25 years.RESULTSResults were mixed, with some studies showing impacts on both SEL skills and PA, while others showed benefits for SEL only. Across different programs and measures, integrative SEL and PA interventions demonstrated modest effects, indicating potential but highlighting the need for more research on optimal implementation to improve adolescent well-being.CONCLUSIONSThese studies highlighted the importance of combining SEL with PA during in-school and out-of-school settings.