Impact of sports activities on the holistic development of children and adolescents: a systematic review
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Abstract
Introduction: Sports participation in childhood and adolescence is a factor in health and holistic development. However, the scientific evidence is scattered across physical, cognitive, emotional, and social dimensions, preventing a holistic view of its impact and hindering evidence-based decision-making in the educational, health, and social fields.
Objective: To systematically analyze recent scientific evidence on the impact of sports activities on the holistic development of children and adolescents.
Methodology: A systematic review was conducted following the PRISMA 2020 guidelines, using the Scopus and Web of Science databases, from which 15 studies of high methodological quality were selected, including longitudinal and experimental designs, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses. The risk of bias was rated as low overall, with high methodological consistency.
Results: The data show that sports participation is associated with improvements in physical fitness, motor development, psychological well-being, social skills, and cognitive performance. Furthermore, different impacts were found depending on the type of sport, intensity, and socioeconomic context, which is of particular interest in vulnerable populations.
Discussion: Sport is a context for holistic development; although known risks exist, they are outweighed by the benefits when practice is planned and supervised.
Conclusions: Sport is a safe and effective tool for the holistic development of children and adolescents, with implications for public policies, educational programs, and health promotion strategies.
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