A Systematic Review of Physical Activity, Sedentary Behavior, and Substance Use in Adolescents and Emerging Adults

Overview

Journal Transl Behav Med

Publisher Oxford University Press

Specialties General Medicine
Public Health
Social Sciences

Date 2020 Oct 12

PMID 33044536

Citations 25

Authors

Ashley B West

Kelsey M Bittel

Michael A Russell

M Blair Evans

Scherezade K Mama

David E Conroy

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The transition from adolescence into emerging adulthood is marked by changes in both physical activity and substance use. This systematic review characterized associations between movement behaviors (physical activity, sedentary behavior) and frequently used substances (alcohol, cannabis) among adolescents and emerging adults to inform lifestyle interventions that target multiple behavior change outcomes. This systematic review was guided by PRISMA. Electronic databases of PubMed, PsycINFO, and Web of Science were searched from inception through June 25, 2019. The search was designed to identify empirical studies reporting an association between physical activity or sedentary behavior and alcohol or cannabis, with search criteria determining eligibility based on several sampling characteristics (e.g., participants under 25 years of age). After identifying and screening 5,610 studies, data were extracted from 97 studies. Physical activity was positively associated with alcohol use among emerging adults, but the literature was mixed among adolescents. Sedentary behavior was positively associated with alcohol and cannabis use among adolescents, but evidence was limited among emerging adults. Self-report measures were used in all but one study to assess these behaviors. Physical activity is linked to greater alcohol use among emerging adults. Whereas existing studies demonstrate that sedentary behavior might serve as a risk marker for alcohol and cannabis use among adolescents, additional primary research is needed to explore these associations in emerging adults. Future work should also use device-based measures to account for timing of and contextual features surrounding activity and substance use in these populations.

Citing Articles

Dose-dependent association between physical activity and mental health, and mitigation effects on risk behaviors.

Zhou H, Jiang F, Liu H, Wu Y, Tang Y iScience. 2025; 28(2):111866.

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Association of physical activity, screen time and sleep with substance use in children and adolescents: a large sample cross-sectional study.

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Association of physical activity and sitting time with tobacco and alcohol use in 222,495 adolescents from 66 countries.

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Enjoyment in Sport and Alcohol Use among Adolescents: Examining the Mediating Role of Engagement.

Schmidt V, Corti J, Celsi I, Raimundi M, Castillo I Children (Basel). 2024; 11(8).

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A preliminary investigation of physical and mental health features of cannabis & nicotine co-use among adolescents and young adults by sex.

Wallace A, Courtney K, Wade N, Doran N, Delfel E, Baca R Addict Behav. 2024; 156:108064.

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