Physical and recreational activities and leisure time among young people: Systematic review

Today, utilizing free time effectively contributes to the development of young people, positively influencing their physical, emotional, and social well-being. Physical and recreational activities become healthy for strengthening interpersonal relationships and promoting positive coexistence. Therefore, the objective of the research was to systematize the theoretical and methodological foundations of physical and recreational activities and the use of free time in young people. For the methodology, a systematic review was applied using the PRISMA protocol, with a selection of articles published between 2020 and 2025. This included searching the Scopus database and applying inclusion and exclusion filters to ensure the quality of the selected studies, resulting in 15 relevant articles. The results revealed that physical and recreational activities improve emotional and social well-being, promoting self-esteem and preventing risky behaviors such as sedentary lifestyles and substance use. They also revealed that the implementation of trained personnel increases participation and commitment. The conclusion was that physical and recreational activities promote the physical and psychological health of adolescents.