BACKGROUND: This meta-review aimed to synthesize the evidence of the effects of exercise on anxiety and depression symptoms amongst adults with cancer, and cancer-survivors, comparing effects sizes between meta-analysis. METHODS: Major databases were searched up to February 9, 2024 for meta-analyses evaluating the effects of exercise, using anxiety and/or depression scales. Effect size (ES) values were calculated as standardized differences in the means and expressed as the Standardized Mean Difference (SMD) with the 95% confidence interval (95% CI). A total of eight unique meta-analyses were included. RESULTS: Among meta-analyses examining both anxiety and depression symptoms overall, a small beneficial effect of exercise was shown (SMD 0.41 (0.25 to 0.57); p < 0.0001). Subgroup analyses revealed that exercise has a small effect on decreasing anxiety (SMD 0.42 (0.04 to 0.79); p = 0.027), and depressive symptoms (SMD 0.38 (0.21 to 0.56); p < 0.0001). In addition, aerobic exercise has a moderate effect on reducing depressive symptoms (SMD 0.54 (0.16 to 0.93); p = 0.005), whereas resistance exercise has no effect. Subgroup analyses by type of cancer observed a moderate effect on decreasing depressive symptoms in patients with breast cancer (SMD 0.51 (0.27 to 0.74); p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Exercise (specifically aerobic) should be considered by healthcare professionals as a strategy to treat/manage symptoms of anxiety and depression amongst adults with cancer and cancer-survivors.

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