Physical and Psychological Health Challenges Among Secondary School Adolescents: A Comprehensive Review

Abstract

SSAPPH refers to the physical and psychological health status of adolescents during the secondary school stage.Secondary school adolescents play a crucial role in shaping and developing their physical and psychological health. This systemic review analyzed 521 papers on secondary school adolescent physical and psychological health (SSAPPH) in the Scopus database from 2005 to 2025, showing the extensive attention of interdisciplinary scholars. The research results show that many scholars pay special attention to the physical and psychological problems of adolescents, and Chinese scholars have shown significant interest in this topic. Keyword co-occurrence analysis highlighted concepts such as "physical activity", "self-efficacy", "body mass index", and "psychological health", showing their core status in SSAPPH research. In terms of research methods, quantitative methods dominate, while multidimensional analysis is universal, which reflects the researchers' emphasis on multi-angle interpretation of data. In terms of the application of theoretical frameworks, "self-determination theory (SDT)", "social cognitive theory (SCT)" and "ecological system theory (EST)" have become the three most commonly used theories, providing solid theoretical support for SSAPPH research. Research further identifies personal, family, school, and social factors as key determinants of SSAPPH outcomes. Finally, the paper offers insights into future research directions, aiming to foster the continued development of the field and to provide more comprehensive scientific guidance for improving the physical and psychological health of adolescents.