The impact of physical education on interpersonal relationships: a systematic review

Resumen

Promoting gender equity and fostering peaceful, inclusive coexistence are critical educational goals that physical education can address. By offering a context rich in motor interactions and promoting well-being, physical education provides an optimal environment to enhance interpersonal relationships. This study conducted a systematic review following Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines to examine the impact of motor interactions during physical education sessions on interpersonal relationships. A total of 9,904 studies were collected from four databases (Web of Science, Scopus, SPORTDiscus, and PsycInfo), with 10 papers meeting the inclusion criteria. Findings revealed that motor interactions have significant potential to improve relationships at group, subgroup, individual, and gender levels, with evidence-based pedagogical models further amplifying these benefits. However, the methodological inconsistency across the reviewed studies limited the ability to draw concrete conclusions. The review also discussed key methodological considerations to guide teachers and researchers in effectively applying sociometric and social network analysis, emphasizing their utility for evaluating group dynamics. This research provides practical evidence and actionable insights for educators and researchers seeking to enhance interpersonal relationships, demonstrating the potential of physical education on promoting peaceful, inclusive, and equitable coexistence.