Table 1 Descriptive characteristics of included studies (n=15)

Choi & Cheung (2016) [43]; Hong Kong

RCT

E:18 (33.3)

C:12 (16.7)

7.39±0.5

Mild

Therapeutic exercise

School

Therapeutic recreation

24-session/180-min/1440-min

ESC

Checklist for Pupil Evaluation

ESC: 1.03^**

Maïano et al. (2002) [44]; France

Non-RCT

E:8 (0)

C:16 (0)

13.40±0.92

13.60±0.62

Mild

Competitive sports

Community

Basketball

56-session/120-min/6720-min

SW

SC

Self-perception Profile

SW: 0.25

SC: 0.22

Maïano et al. (2001) [45]; France

RCT

E:16 (0)

C:16 (0)

13.50±0.80

Mild to moderate

Competitive sports

Community

Basketball, running

30-session/120-min/720-min

SC

Self-perception Profile

SC: 0.28

Ninot & Maïano (2007) [46]; France

Non-RCT

E:32 (100)

C:16 (100)

13-17

Mild to moderate

Competitive Sports

Community

Basketball, swimming

91-session/120-min/10920-min

SW

SC

Self-perception Profile

SW: 0.50

SC: 0.37

Ninot et al. (2005) [47]; France

Non-RCT

E:32 (100)

C:16 (100)

13-17

Mild to moderate

Competitive sports

Community

Swimming

139-session/120-min/16680-min

SW

SC

Self-perception Profile

SW: 0.42

SC: 0.40

Ninot et al. (2000) [48]; France

Non-RCT

E:32 (100)

C:16 (100)

13-17

Mild to moderate

Competitive sports

Community

Basketball, swimming

35-session/120-min/4200-min

SW

SC

Self-perception Profile

SW: 0.73

SC: 0.70

Özer et al. (2012) [49]; Turkey

RCT

E:23 (0)

C:15 (0)

14.50±1.20

14.50±0.80

Overall

Non-competitive sports

Community

Soccer

24-session/270-min/2160-min

SC

A/D

Child Behaviour Checklist

SC-Parent-proxy:0.81^*

SC-Teacher-proxy: 0.20

A/D-Parent-proxy: 0.12

A/D-Teacher-proxy: 0.62

Perić et al. (2021) [50]; Servia

RCT

E: 12 (0)

C: 13 (0)

15.68±0.49

15.72±0.46

Mild to moderate

Competitive sports

Community

Soccer

32-session/120-min/1920-min

A/D

12-item Anxiety/Depression Scale

A/D-Parent-proxy: 1.315^**

Ryuh et al. (2019) [51]; USA

Non-RCT

E:10 (0)

C:10 (0)

10.80±0.60

10.40±0.70

Overall

Non-competitive sports

School

Soccer

20-session/450-min/1800-min

SEW

Withdrawn Behaviour Checklist

SEW: 1.45^**

Chen et al. (2015) [52]; Taiwan

RCT

SOT: 46 (43.5)

TTT: 45 (46.7)

C: 41 (43.9)

10.90±3.90

10.60±3.60

10.70±4.00

Mild

Aerobic exercise, therapeutic exercise

Community

Table tennis, occupational therapy

48-session/180-min/2880-min

EF

CF

EF: WCST-64

CF: Stroop color-word test

SOT-EF: 1.16^**

SOT-CF: 1.97^**

TTT-EF: 1.33^*

TTT-CF: 1.90^**

Giagazoglou et al. (2013) [53]; Greece

RCT

E:10 (0)

C:9 (0)

15.30±2.10

Mild to moderate

Therapeutic exercise

School

Hippotherapy exercise

28-session/70-min/980-min

RT

Rise from the armchair

Auditory-CE: 1.54^**

Auditory-OE: 2.07^**

Visual: 1.33^**

Mazzoli et al. (2021) [54]; Australia

RCT

E: 15 (33.3)

C: 9 (44.4)

9.90±1.00

Mild to moderate

Cognitive exercise

School

Classroom break

50-session/50-min/250-min

ACC

IC

RT

WM

IC: Flanker

RT & ACC: GNGT

WM: NIHTB-CB

ACC: 0.07

IC: 0.15

RT: 0.37

WM: 1.07^**

Pise et al. (2018) [55]; India

RCT

E: 35 (31.4)

C: 35 (48.6)

10-15

Mild to moderate

Cognitive exercise

NR

Yoga

60-session/300-min/3600-min

RT

Ruler test

RT: 3.13^**

Vogt et al. (2013) [56]; Germany

Non-RCT

E:11

C:11

(46)

16.00±1.34

Overall

Aerobic exercise

School

Cycling

NR

RT

Cognitive performance

Visual-L: 0.33

Visual-P: 1.38^**

Yildirim et al. (2010) [57]; Turkey

RCT

E:25 (24)

C:25 (20)

14.52±1.50

14.80±1.29

Mild

Cognitive exercise

NR

Physical fitness

36-session/120-min/2160-min

RT

Newest Reaction Time Scale

Auditory: 0.95^**

Visual: 0v86^**