Digital Technologies Developed for Enhancing Physical Activity Among Youth: A 20-Year Umbrella Review and Systematic Review

Year 2025, Volume: 10 Issue: 3, 429 - 455

Ahmet Özsoy , Nuh Osman Yıldız , Bekir Çar , Elia Andrea Salamone , Federico Mazzara , Mert Gürer , Bora Agbulut , Emin Kerem Erkadam , Zafer Karakus , Aziz Onurhan Ahraz , Zülbiye Kaçay

https://doi.org/10.25307/jssr.1591617

Abstract

The impact of digital technologies on physical activity, sedentary behavior, energy expenditure, and weight loss has been a subject of long-standing investigation. While numerous studies have been conducted, their findings often lack the consistency needed to provide a comprehensive understanding. This has led to a surge in systematic reviews aimed at compiling primary studies to deliver more objective and holistic insights. An umbrella review covering 20 years of systematic reviews on the influence of digital technologies on increasing physical activity identified significant gaps. Notably, no systematic review focused exclusively on youth aged 14-29, and existing reviews exhibited considerable variability due to differences in target populations, technologies used, study designs, and inconsistent findings. Building on the umbrella review, the systematic review adhered to the same framework in terms of research questions, study protocol, data selection, inclusion and exclusion criteria, and methodology, with the key distinction being the population criteria. Specifically, while the umbrella review included studies encompassing a range of age groups, the systematic review focused exclusively on studies recruiting participants within the 14-29 age range. The umbrella review analyzed 22 high-quality systematic reviews encompassing a broad spectrum of digital interventions. Using the categories established by the umbrella review, the systematic review synthesized findings from 108 studies targeting youth exclusively. These findings revealed emerging insights into the potential of digital technologies for promoting physical activity. The analysis highlighted the need for robust, theory-driven interventions and longitudinal studies to establish sustainable behavioral changes in this age group.

Keywords

Digital technologies , Sport , Physical activity , Youth , Sedentary lifestyle

Supporting Institution

Turkish National Agency- This study was produced from the Phytech Youth Project, which was accepted within the scope of the European Union Erasmus+ KA210 Cooperation Partnerships in the Field of Youth project.

Project Number

This study was produced from the Phytech Youth Project, which was accepted within the scope of the European Union Erasmus+ KA210 Cooperation Partnerships in the Field of Youth project.

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