Influence and Relationship of Physical Activity before, during and after the School Day on Bullying and Cyberbullying in Young People: A Systematic Review

Abstract

The aim of this systematic review was to analyze the influence of the practice of Physical Activity (PA) before, during and after school hours on bullying and cyberbullying in children and adolescents. Studies were identified in four databases (PubMed, SCOPUS, Web of Science, ERIC) from January 2013 to March 2024. A total of 29 studies met the inclusion criteria. Seventeen studies used a cross-sectional design to explore the association between these variables, and 12 articles had a longitudinal design with PA interventions. The review found that PA is associated with significant improvements in bullying and cyberbullying, reduced depressive symptoms, and strengthened social relationships, responsibility, and self-esteem. PA before the school day may be effective in reducing bullying victimization. During the school day, it promotes affective behaviors related to bullying, such as empathy and respect for others, and optimizes psychological factors such as self-concept and self-esteem. After-school PA reduces bullying and disruptive behaviors in non-educational contexts. It is recommended to implement PA programs that address social, emotional and behavioral aspects throughout the day, with Educational Centers and Physical Education as the central axis. Didactic recommendations for implementing PA programs against bullying/cyberbullying in school and extracurricular contexts are included.

Keywords

• physical education
• bullying
• cyberbullying
• children
• adolescents