Physical activity, resilience, and mental health in adolescents: a systematic review of recent evidence

Background: Adolescent mental health remains a global priority. Recent studies suggest that physical activity (PA) benefits mental health in youth, with psychological resilience increasingly recognized as a key explanatory pathway. Objective: This systematic review synthesizes recent evidence published between January 2022 and December 2025 on the relationships among physical activity, resilience, and adolescent mental health. Participants: Adolescents (approximately ages 10-19) from observational cohorts and intervention trials in community and at-risk samples included in the reviewed literature. Methods: Following PRISMA guidance, we systematically searched PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, PsycINFO, and SPORTDiscus (January 2022-December 2025) using terms for PA, resilience, and adolescent mental health; reference lists were hand-searched. Eligible studies were quantitative and examined PA with resilience and mental health outcomes in adolescents. We conducted a best-evidence narrative synthesis given heterogeneity in designs and measures. Results: Across the reviewed evidence, higher physical activity levels were generally associated with better mental health outcomes and greater resilience in adolescents. A total of 10 studies formally tested mediation involving resilience or related psychosocial pathways, and all reported significant indirect effects. Conclusions: Current evidence supports PA as a scalable strategy to promote adolescent mental health, with resilience as a central mechanism. Programs that emphasize mastery, social connection, and supportive climates are likely to maximize gains. Future work should prioritize longitudinal/causal designs, harmonized measurement of resilience and outcomes, and equity-focused implementation to determine for whom and under what conditions PA most effectively fosters mental well-being.