Physical Education and recreation as means for resilience in the face of psychological trauma: analysis of scientific literature (2000-2025)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v73.117566Keywords:
Anxiety, depression, forced displacement, post-traumatic stress, mental healthAbstract
Introduction: Violence, adverse childhood experiences, forced displacement, war, and disasters severely impact the mental health of millions of people, leading to sequelae such as anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress, and adaptation difficulties.
Objective: To examine the existing evidence on the effectiveness of physical education and recreation as strategies to strengthen resilience in individuals affected by psychological trauma.
Methodology: A systematic literature review with a descriptive and analytical approach was adopted.
Results: Studies converge in affirming that physical education, sports, and recreation have positive effects on reducing post-traumatic symptoms and strengthening resilience.
Discussion: The findings presented confirm that both supervised exercise programs and community-based sports and recreational initiatives have positive effects on reducing post-traumatic symptoms and consolidating coping resources.
Conclusions: It was concluded that physical education and recreation provided a safe and structured environment that promoted both emotional regulation and social cohesion, elements considered central to coping and recovery processes.
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