Table 1.
Summary of studies investigating the impact of digital physical activity interventions on mental health symptoms.
| Study, year | Sample size, N | Population studied | Intervention used | Duration | Physical activity outcome | Primary psychiatric outcome | Primary medical outcome |
| Aguilera et al [99], 2020a | N/Ab | Adults with diabetes and a score of >5 on the PHQc | Apps: DIAMANTE to track data and deliver adaptive learning algorithm (active only) and HealthySMS to send messages (active and control) | 6 months | Steps | Depressive symptoms (PHQ-8d) | HbA1ce levels (blood glucose) |
| Broers et al [100], 2019 | 557 | Adults diagnosed with hypertension, symptomatic heart failure, or coronary artery disease | Wearable (Fitbit) activity tracker, wearable (Beddit) sleep tracker, app (Moves) GPS tracker, app (Careportal) home monitoring system | 6 months | Steps; physical activity level (combined length of active periods and step count) | Anxiety (GAD-7f) and depression (PHQ-9g) | N/A |
| Damschroder et al [101], 2020 | 357 | Web-based confirmation of veteran status | App (Stay Strong) and wearable (Fitbit Charge 2) | 12 months | Active minutes per week; steps | N/A | N/A |
| Edney et al [102], 2020 | 444 | Adults currently completing <150 minutes of MVPAh per week | App (Active Team) and wearables (pedometer and Zencro TW64S) | 3 months | Daily minutes of MVPA | Symptoms of anxiety, depression, and stress (DASS-Di) | N/A |
| García-Estela et al [103], 2021a | N/A | Spanish-speaking adults with MADRSj score of >1 | App (IDEApp) and wearable (smartband) | 8 months | SIMPAQk; functional exercise capacity (6MWTl and 1-min sit-to-stand test); short Borg CR-10m Scale | Depressive symptoms (PHQ-9); well-being (WHO-5n) | Global functioning (SF-36v2o) |
| Guo et al [104], 2020 | 300 | Adults who are HIV-seropositive with elevated depressive symptoms | App (WeChat) and Run4Love program (adapted CBSMp course and physical activity promotion) delivered through the WeChat app | 3 months | Chinese version of the GPAQq | Depressive symptoms (CES-Dr) | N/A |
| Haufe et al [105], 2020 | 314 | Adults with metabolic syndrome | Wearable (activity monitor; Forerunner 35; Garmin) | 6 months | Freiburger Questionnaire on Physical Activity; steps | Anxiety severity and depression severity (HADSs) | Change in metabolic syndrome severity; health-related quality of life (SF-36t) |
| Kim et al [106], 2021 | 21 | Adults aged >46 years diagnosed with PDu or atypical parkinsonism conditions and regular participation in a PD exercise program at least once a week | App (researcher-created physical activity app) | 8 weeks | Total exercise calculated by multiplying the frequency and duration for all exercises; subjective exercise scale (Borg 6-20 scale); IPAQv | Depression (Geriatric Depression Scale–Short Form) | PDQ-39w |
| Lin et al [107], 2020a | N/A | Physically inactive adults with a musculoskeletal diagnosis (ICD-10x) and in rehabilitation following inpatient clinic treatment | App (MoVo) | 12 months | BSAy, sport activity and movement activity subscales | Depression (PHQ-9); anxiety (GAD-7) | Brief Pain Inventory |
| Ma et al [108], 2015a | N/A | Adult participants who were obese and experiencing depression | Wearable (Fitbit) and app or website (MyFitnessPal) | 12 months | Minutes of physical activity logged on MyFitnessPal | Depression (SCL-20z) | Changes in BMI |
| Nadal et al [109], 2021a | N/A | Adult users with mild to moderate depression who were assigned to iCBTaa treatment for depression | Wearable (smartwatch; Mood Monitor watch app) | 8 weeks | Smartwatch activity data | Depression (PHQ-9), anxiety (GAD-7), and functional impairment (WSASab) | N/A |
| Park et al [110], 2021 | 60 | Adults with a history of cardiovascular disease who were within 2 weeks of completing cardiac rehabilitation | Wearable (Fitbit Charge 2) and apps (Movn and Fitbit) | 2 months | Steps; 6MWT; self-reported physical activity | Quality of life (QLESQac); depression (PHQ-9) | N/A |
| Puszkiewicz et al [111], 2016 | 13 | Adults with a diagnosis of breast, prostate, or colorectal cancer who had finished primary curative treatment | App (GAINFitness) | 6 weeks | Physical activity (GLTEQad) | Health and quality of life outcomes (EQ-5D); well-being (FACT-Gae); anxiety and depression (HADS) | Cancer-related fatigue (FACITaf); sleep quality (PSQIag) |
| Puterman et al [112], 2021 | 334 | Adults with a score of 1-3 on the L-CATah who were cleared to exercise | App (Down Dog suite of apps—HIITai and yoga) | 6 weeks | Sessions of yoga or HIIT completed; minutes of yoga or HIIT completed | Depressive symptoms (CESD) | N/A |
| Skrepnik et al [113], 2017 | 172 | Adults with osteoarthritis eligible to receive the hylan G-F 20 injection | Wearable (Jawbone UP24) and app (OA GO) | 90 days | Steps | VAMSaj | Changes in sleep captured by the wearable activity monitor |
| Stephens et al [114], 2022 | 15 | Youth (aged 11 to ≤18 years) with MSak and a disability rating of <4 on the EDSSal and attending a pediatric MS and neuroinflammatory disorder clinic | App (Atomic) | 12 weeks | Physical activity measured via accelerometry; time spent in MVPA and sedentary activities; aerobic fitness, musculoskeletal strength, and walking endurance | Depression (CES-DCam) | N/A |
| Teychenne et al [115], 2021 | 62 | Mothers 3-9 months post partum, insufficiently active, and experiencing heightened depressive symptoms | App (smartphone app and web forum) | 12 weeks | Self-reported physical activity; accelerometer-assessed physical activity and sedentary behavior | Depressive and anxiety symptoms (unstandardized questionnaires) | N/A |
| Wilczynska et al [116], 2020 | N/A | Adults with or at risk of type 2 diabetes | App (eCoFIT) | 20 weeks | N/A | Depressive and anxiety symptoms (PHQ-9 and GAD-7) | Social support, self-efficacy, nature relatedness, and perceived sleep quality |
| Wong et al [117], 2021 | 79 | Adults with moderate depressive symptoms | App (Lifestyle Hubl) | 8 weeks | Physical activity level (IPAQ) | Depressive and anxiety symptoms (PHQ-9 and GAD-7) | Insomnia (ISIan); health-related quality of life; health-promoting behaviors (HPLP-IIao); functional impairment (SDSap) |
aPublished protocol.
bN/A: not applicable.
cPHQ: Patient Health Questionnaire.
dPHQ-8: Patient Health Questionnaire-8.
eHbA1c: hemoglobin A1c.
fGAD-7: Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7.
gPHQ-9: Patient Health Questionnaire-9.
hMVPA: moderate to vigorous physical activity.
iDASS-D: Depression Anxiety Stress Scales: Depression Subscale.
jMADRS: Montgomery–Åsberg Depression Rating Scale.
kSIMPAQ: Simple Physical Activity Questionnaire.
l6MWT: 6-Minute Walk Test.
mCR-10: Borg Category-Ratio scale.
nWHO-5: World Health Organisation–Five Well-Being Index.
oSF-36v2: 36-Item Short Form Health Survey version 2.
pCBSM: cognitive behavioral stress management.
qGPAQ: Global Physical Activity Questionnaire.
rCES-D: Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale.
sHADS: Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale.
tSF-36: 36-Item Short Form Health Survey.
uPD: Parkinson disease.
vIPAQ: International Physical Activity Questionnaire.
wPDQ-39: Parkinson Disease Questionnaire-39.
xCD-10: International Statistical Classification of Diseases, Tenth RevisionI.
yBSA: Movement and Sport Activity Questionnaire.
zSCL-20: Symptom Checklist Depression Scale.
aaiCBT: internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy.
abWSAS: Work and Social Adjustment Scale.
acQLESQ: Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnaire.
adGLTEQ: Godin Leisure-Time Exercise Questionnaire.
aeFACT-G: Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy–General.
afFACIT: Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy.
agPSQI: Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index.
ahL-CAT: Stanford Leisure-Time Categorical Activity Item.
aiHIIT: high-intensity interval training.
ajVAMS: visual analog mood scale.
akMS: multiple sclerosis.
alEDSS: Expanded Disability Status Scale.
amCES-DC: Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale for Children.
anISI: Insomnia Severity Index.
aoHPLP-II: Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile-II.
apSDS: Sheehan Disability Scale.