Abstract
BACKGROUND: Self-rated health (SRH) is one of the common measures to evaluate individuals' overall health. Many studies have explored the associations between different types of physical activity (PA), sedentary behavior (SB), and SRH in children and adolescents. These studies report inconsistent findings and sometimes highlight gender differences. This systematic review aims to synthesize findings to provide a comprehensive evaluation of these associations. METHODS: English-language articles published between January 2010 and September 2024 were systematically searched through Web of Science, PubMed, and EBSCOhost databases. Following PRISMA guidelines, we included 47 studies in this review that meet eligibility criteria. Study quality was assessed using the National Institutes of Health's study quality assessment tool for observational cohort and cross-sectional studies. RESULTS: The majority of study findings show that ≥ 60 min/day of moderate-to-vigorous PA (≥ 4 days/week), vigorous PA (≥ 3 days/week or ≥ 4 times/week), out-of-school PA (≥ 2 days/week), and sports participation are significantly positive associated with SRH. Additionally, evidence suggests that SB (e.g., watching TV and doing homework) generally shows no significant association with SRH. More study findings support that PA is positively associated with boys' SRH than that of girls. CONCLUSIONS: Findings show significant positive associations between PA and SRH, particularly those of vigorous and moderate-to-vigorous intensity, while the association between SB and SRH requires further investigation beyond TV and video game/computer times. Evidence of gender differences in the associations suggests the potential need for targeted strategies to enhance SRH in girls.