PHYSICAL EXERCISE AND DEPRESSION IN ADOLESCENCE: CONTRIBUTIONS OF RESISTANCE TRAINING TO MENTAL HEALTH

Abstract

This article sought to analyze the contributions of resistance training to the alleviation of depressive symptoms in adolescents, identifying physiological and psychosocial mechanisms and synthesizing evidence of the effectiveness of this non-pharmacological intervention. Methodologically, an integrative literature review was conducted, following the steps proposed by Mendes, Silveira and Galvão (2008): definition of the guiding question, inclusion and exclusion criteria, data extraction and critical appraisal, and synthesis of findings. The searches covered the period from 2005 to 2025 in the CAPES, BVS, SciELO and PubMed databases, using the descriptors Adolescents, Resistance Training and Depression combined with AND, resulting in the final selection of 12 peer-reviewed studies. The results indicated that resistance training, applied alone or combined with other modalities, significantly reduces symptoms of depression and anxiety, with effects comparable to pharmacological and psychotherapeutic interventions. Evidence pointed to increased neurotransmitters related to well-being, reduced cortisol levels, and improvements in neuroplasticity, metabolism, and body composition. In the psychosocial domain, increased self-esteem, greater social engagement and adherence to healthy habits were observed, especially in supervised group settings. It is concluded that resistance training constitutes a safe and multidimensional strategy for promoting mental health in adolescence, recommending its incorporation into school and community programs.