Relationship between bullying behaviors and physical activity in children and adolescents: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Previous research has indicated a connection between physical activity and bullying behaviors among children and adolescents, however, there is a lack of in-depth exploration of this relationship. Therefore, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the relationship between the physical activity in children and adolescents and bullying behaviors. We searched the literature through the database until December 2023, and finally included 15 original studies through screening, and conducted a preliminary analysis, including both overall effects and detailed subgroup analyses. The results revealed a significant negative correlation between physical activity and bullying victimization (r = −0.16, p < 0.001) among children and adolescents, but no significant correlation with bullying (r = −0.01, p = 0.83). Our study extends current studies by examining various moderating factors, including the cultural and economic background and basic characteristics of the sample, different forms of bullying behaviors, different intensity and measurement forms of physical activity, which may influence the relationship between physical activity and bullying behaviors. The findings of this meta-analysis suggest a link between physical activity and bullying behaviors in children and adolescents, emphasizing the need to consider the influence of various variables in future intervention programs.