The influence of outdoor physical activity on the physical and mental health of college students: a systematic review

Objective Outdoor activity plays a significant role in promoting physical and mental health, but the impact of outdoor physical activity on college students’ physical and mental health remains unclear. Clarifying this relationship will inform mental health interventions and the design of campus activities. Therefore, this study aims to systematically investigate the influence of outdoor physical activity on college students’ physical and mental health. Methods A systematic search was conducted in the PubMed, EBSCO, and Web of Science databases for English-language literature published from the inception of each database through March 2026. The literature screening process consisted of three stages: removal of duplicates, title and abstract screening, and full-text review. The entire study strictly followed the PRISMA guidelines, and the methodological quality of the included studies was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Assessment Tool. Results This study ultimately included 32 studies involving a total of 7,274 university students. It was established that outdoor physical activity has positive influences on multiple psychological dimensions among university students, including depression, stress, emotional state, vitality, self-esteem, well-being, and academic burnout. However, no consistent conclusions have been reached regarding the effects of outdoor physical activity on anxiety and attention. Additionally, outdoor physical activity has a positive influence on enhancing physical activity levels and promoting physical health among university students. Conclusion Outdoor physical activity can influence the physical and mental health of college students. However, the current number of studies examining the influence of outdoor physical activity on physical activity levels and physical health among college students is relatively limited, and related conclusions should be interpreted with caution. Future research should adopt more rigorous study designs and further examine the effects of different forms of outdoor physical activity on the physical health of college students.