Leisure-time physical activity is negatively associated with depression symptoms independently of the socioeconomic status

How race and socioeconomic status moderate the association between moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and depressive symptoms: a cross-sectional study with compositional data

OBJECTIVES

This study explored how race and socioeconomic status (SES) moderated the association between moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and depressive symptoms with compositional data.

METHODS

Participants were 2803 US adults from the 2005-2006 cycle of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Accelerometers were used to measure MVPA, light-intensity physical activity (LPA) and sedentary behaviours (SB). Participants self-reported sleep duration and depressive symptoms. SES was derived by latent class analysis using household income level, education attainment and occupation. The association between the relative time of MVPA and depressive symptoms and the moderating effects of race and SES were investigated through compositional data analysis. Isotemporal substitution analysis was employed to estimate the association of time reallocation from other movement behaviours to MVPA with depressive symptoms.

RESULTS

Increased time spent in MVPA relative to time spent in LPA, SB and sleep was inversely associated with depressive symptoms (OR (95% CI)=0.679 (0.538-0.855)). The relative time of MVPA significantly interacted with race and SES for depressive symptoms (P for interaction <0.05). Reallocating 10-30 min from sleep, SB or LPA to MVPA was associated with lower odds of depressive symptoms solely among non-Hispanic white individuals and those with higher SES.

CONCLUSION

This study used compositional data to reveal a reverse association between MVPA and depressive symptoms among white individuals and those with higher SES. Our results provide evidence of how race and SES moderate the relationship between MVPA and depressive symptoms. Future research is needed to further explore these racial and socioeconomic differences.

The Relation of Having Experienced a Fall in the Past to Lower Cognitive Functioning in Old Age Is Mediated via Less Physical Activity Engagement as Cognitive Reserve Contributor

Physical activity and exercise contribute to the accumulation of cognitive reserve, which is instrumental for preserving cognitive health in old age. In a large sample of 701 older adults (mean age = 70.36 years), we investigated whether the relationship between having experienced a fall in the past and lower performance in cognitive functioning was mediated via less physical activity engagement as a cognitive reserve contributor. General cognition was assessed using the mini-mental state examination (MMSE), long-term memory using a word-pair delayed recall test and working memory using a backward digit-span test. In face-to-face interviews, individuals reported information on falls during the past 12 months and their habitual physical activity engagement. Our analyses demonstrated that the relationship between having experienced a fall in the past and lower performance in the cognitive functioning measures was partly mediated (by 16.3% for general cognition, 30.6% for long-term memory, and 33.1% for working memory, respectively) via less physical activity engagement. In conclusion, we suggest as a core bio-psychological mechanism that experiencing a fall at an older age is a critical life event that hinders sufficient physical activity engagement and thereby impedes cognitive reserve build-up, resulting in lower cognitive functioning outcomes.

Associations of Physical Activity and Television Viewing With Depressive Symptoms of the European Adults

Background: While mentally passive sedentary behavior such as television viewing (TV) is often related with depressive symptoms, some research shows that physical activity (PA) may attenuate this association. Thus, this study aimed to examine the associations between TV, PA, and depressive symptoms, considering sociodemographic covariates.

Methods: A sample of 29,285 adults (13,943 men; 15,342 women) with a mean age of 50.9 ± 17.4 years (50.6 ± 17.3 men; 51.1 ± 17.5 women) from the European Social Survey agreed to be respondents for this study. Data for sociodemographic variables, TV watching, PA, and depressive symptoms were self-reported. Different statistical procedures were conducted to provide evidence for the association between study variables. ANCOVA was used to analyze the association between TV watching and depressive symptoms. Linear regression analysis was conducted to analyze the association between PA and depressive symptoms. General Linear Model was performed to analyze the association of TV watching and on depressive symptoms, controlling for PA.

Results: European adults who responded watching more than 2 h per day showed higher scores for depressive symptoms. Higher participation in PA was negatively and significantly associated with depressive symptoms in men (β = −0.15, 95% CI: −0.18, −0.13), and women (β = −0.23, 95% CI: −0.26, −0.21). Men spending 1–2 h/day TV watching and engaging in PA ≥ 5 days/week presented the lowest scores on depressive symptoms. The lowest scores on depressive symptoms was observed in women engaging 2–4 days/week in PA and spending <1 h/day in TV watching.

Conclusions: More time spent in TV watching is related with increased scores on depressive symptoms. However, regular PA participation can weaken this association.

Association between self-care disability and depressive symptoms among middle-aged and elderly Chinese people

Objective

In the context of an increased focus on geriatric depression in recent years, this study examined the associations between different types of self-care disability, the number of self-care disabilities, and depressive symptoms among middle-aged and elderly Chinese people.

Method

The data for this study were extracted from the follow-up survey (conducted in 2018) of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). The sample comprised 10808 participants aged 45 years and older. The Activities of Daily Living (ADL) scale and the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression (CESD-10) Scale were used to assess self-care disability and depressive symptoms, respectively.

Result

The prevalence of depressive symptoms and self-care disability among the surveyed residents was 45.1% and 23.4%, respectively. Overall, there was a significant positive association between self-care disability and depressive symptoms. Participants who reported having a self-care disability in relation dressing, bathing, transferring in and out of bed, using the toilet, and controlling urination and defecation were found to have a significantly higher risk of depressive symptoms. In addition, participants with a greater cumulative quantity of self-care disabilities had a higher risk of depressive symptoms, and higher CESD-10 scores.

Conclusion

Self-care disability is a risk factor for depressive symptoms among middle-aged and elderly Chinese people. A positive correlation between the number of self-care disabilities and the risk of depressive symptoms was found.

The Interaction between Exercise and Marital Status on Depression: A Cross-Sectional Study of the Taiwan Biobank

Few studies evaluating the relationship between depression and exercise consider peoples' socio-demographic characteristics. This cross-sectional study investigated the interaction between exercise and marital status and depression in Taiwanese adults. Data from the 2-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-2) was recruited from the Taiwan Biobank. Participants indicated their exercise status, showing 5015 no-exercise cases and 3407 exercise cases. Marital status, including unmarried, divorced or separated, and widowed, were all significant, especially among the no-exercise group. The relationship between exercise/no exercise and marital status was examined; no exercise and unmarried, divorced or separated, and widowed, as well as exercise and married were significant to PHQ-2. Gender was significant in both the married and unmarried groups. The association between exercise, marital status, gender, and education on PHQ-2 score was also significant. Married people, especially men, had lower depression scores. Additionally, exercise had a protective effect against depression for unmarried people, especially women.

Association between health behaviors and depression: findings from the 2019 Brazilian National Health Survey

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the association of depression with various health behaviors and to verify if they differ according to gender or income.

METHODS

This is a cross-sectional study based on data of 65,803 Brazilian adults (18-59 years old) interviewed in the National Health Survey, conducted in 2019. Presence or absence of depression was evaluated using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ)-9. The prevalence of smoking, alcohol consumption, physical activity, sedentary lifestyle and food indicators were estimated according to the presence of depression. Stratified analyses were made according to sex and income, and prevalence ratios were estimated using the Poisson Regression.

RESULTS

We found a significant association between depression and all indicators studied, except occasional alcohol consumption. Depression was associated with heavy episodic drinking and insufficient consumption of fruits and vegetables only in women. In men, the associations of depression with sedentary lifestyle and with being a former smoker were stronger than in women. The occasional consumption of alcohol was more prevalent only in men without depression. The analysis stratified by income showed that the association of depression with physical inactivity is stronger in the higher-income group, while with heavy episodic drinking is only significant in the lower-income stratum.

CONCLUSION

The results point to the need to consider mental health in programs aimed at reducing harmful health behaviors and the specificity of sociodemographic groups.

Does baseline leisure-time physical activity level predict future depressive symptoms or physical activity among depressive patients? Findings from a Finnish five-year cohort study

OBJECTIVES

The aims of this study were to investigate whether baseline leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) is associated with future recovery from depression among patients with a depression diagnosis and whether baseline LTPA is associated with total physical activity after five years of follow-up.

METHODS

A total of 258 patients aged ≥35 years with clinically confirmed depression at baseline participated. The study was conducted between 2008 and 2016 in municipalities within the Central Finland Hospital District. Depressive symptoms (DS) were determined with the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) with a cutoff score ≥10, and depression diagnoses were confirmed by the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI). Blood pressure and anthropometric parameters were measured and blood samples for glucose and lipid determinations were drawn at baseline. LTPA, physical activity, and other social and clinical factors were captured by standard self-administered questionnaires at baseline and the five-year follow-up point.

RESULTS

Of the 258 patients, 76 (29%) had DS at follow-up. Adjusted odds ratio (OR) for future DS was 1.43 (confidence interval [CI] 0.69-2.95) for participants with moderate LTPA and 0.92 (CI 0.42-2.00) for participants with high LTPA, compared with low LTPA at baseline. Higher baseline LTPA levels were associated with higher total physical activity in the future (β=0.14 [95% CI: 0.02-0.26] for linearity = 0.024).

CONCLUSION

Baseline LTPA did not affect the five-year prognosis of depression among depressed patients in a Finnish adult population. Because the baseline LTPA level predicted the future total physical activity, it could be included as a part of the overall health management and treatment of depression in clinical practices.

Bidirectional Association between Physical Activity and Dopamine Across Adulthood-A Systematic Review

Physical activity (PA) may influence the secretion of neurotransmitters and thereby have positive consequences for an individual's vulnerability (i.e., reducing anxiety and depressive symptoms). This systematic review aims to analyse the potential bidirectional effects of exercise on dopamine from young adulthood to old age. The article search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science in December 2020. The inclusion criteria were longitudinal and experimental study design; outcomes included dopamine and exercise; effect of exercise on dopamine and vice versa; adults; and articles published in English, Portuguese, or Spanish. Fifteen articles were included in the review. We observed robust findings concerning the potential effects of PA on dopamine, which notably seem to be observable across a wide range of participants characteristics (including age and sex), a variety of PA characteristics, and a broad set of methods to analyse dopamine. By contrast, regarding the potential effects of dopamine on PA, findings were mixed across studies. Thus, there are robust effects of physical exercise on dopamine. These findings further strengthen the idea that innovative approaches could include PA interventions for treating and preventing mental disorders. Therefore, it seems that PA is a potential alternative to deal with mental health issues.

Leisure-time exercise is associated with lower depressive symptoms in community dwelling adults

Physical activity has been associated with enhanced mental health among adults. However, it is not clear in the literature which domains (occupational, transport and leisure-time exercise) and intensities (moderate, vigorous and moderate-to-vigorous) of activity provide the greatest benefits. The aim of the present study was to describe the association of different domains and intensities of physical activity with depressive symptoms in adults. This was a cross-sectional observational study conducted among 209 adults (≥18 years) in Brazil. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the HADS questionnaire (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale). Physical activity intensities (moderate, vigorous and moderate-to-vigorous) were device-measured by accelerometry. Physical activity in different domains (occupational, transport, and leisure-time exercise) was self-reported using a questionnaire. Chronological age, ethnicity, body mass index, highest academic achievement, employment status, alcohol consumption, tobacco smoking, chronic morbidity and soft-drink ingestion were adopted as adjustment confounding factors. Linear regression analysis revealed that total self-reported physical activity [β = -0.100 (95%CI: -0.180 to -0.019)] and leisure-time exercise [β = -0.311 (95%CI: -0.468 to -0.155)] were negatively associated with depressive symptoms, but only leisure-time exercise remained significant after adjustment for confounding factors [β = -0.243 (95%CI: -0.409 to -0.076)]. Thus, leisure-time exercise was cross-sectionally associated with lower depressive symptoms in community-dwelling adults.Highlights Leisure-time physical activity was the only physical activity domain associated with lower depressive symptoms.This association appears to be independent of potential confounders.Potential interventions should focus on leisure-time domain.

The Effect of Muscular Strength on Depression Symptoms in Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

The aim was to systematically review the relationship between muscular strength (MS) and depression symptoms (DS) among adults, and conduct a meta-analysis to determine the pooled odds ratio (OR) for the relationship between MS and DS. The strategies employed in this systematic review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. Studies published up to December 2019 were systematically identified by searching in the PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science electronic databases. Inclusion criteria were: (1) cross-sectional, longitudinal and intervention studies; (2) outcomes included depression or DS; (3) participants were adults and older adults; and (4) the articles were published in English, French, Portuguese, or Spanish. A total of 21 studies were included in the review, totalling 87,508 adults aged ≥18 years, from 26 countries. The systematic review findings suggest that MS has a positive effect on reducing DS. Meta-analysis findings indicate that MS is inversely and significantly related to DS 0.85 (95% CI: 0.80, 0.89). Interventions aiming to improve MS have the potential to promote mental health and prevent depression. Thus, public health professionals could use MS assessment and improvement as a strategy to promote mental health and prevent depression.