New findings from the University of Toronto reveal that adults who have reported more symptoms of depression over the past week are also less likely to have been physically active during the same timeframe. This relationship is bidirectional: increased physical activity is similarly associated with better mental health. Published in the journal Mental Health and Physical Activity, the research enhances our comprehension of how symptoms of depression and physical activity interrelate and influence each other during adulthood.
Soli Dubash, a doctoral candidate at the University of Toronto’s Department of Sociology, expressed surprise at the findings. “It was unexpected to discover that current symptoms of depression could adversely affect your levels of physical activity even two to five years later, whereas being inactive today does not predict future symptoms of depression,” Dubash noted. She suggested that while the impacts of current depression might be enduring, they seem less significant than the influences of current physical activity.
Numerous studies have confirmed that physical activities such as going to the gym, dancing, gardening, or walking can significantly enhance mental and physical health, with benefits comparable to those of antidepressant medications. This new study supports these findings, demonstrating a connection between weekly physical activity and depression symptoms and suggesting that increased activity can elevate mood.
Dubash emphasised the importance of understanding the reciprocal relationship between mental health and physical activity. “This understanding can empower individuals to make informed decisions regarding their health, as well as the health of their family and community members,” she said. She highlighted the significance of recognising how increased and decreased physical activity can affect mood and overall health.
The study tracked a nationally representative sample of 3,499 U.S. adults from 1986 to 2011 to explore the lasting effects of initial differences in physical activity levels and symptoms of depression. It examined how past physical activity and depression symptoms can predict their future states and assessed the stability of this relationship throughout adulthood. A novel causal inference technique was employed to ensure that the findings accurately reflect real-world experiences. This method accounted for stable individual characteristics that might otherwise confound results, such as biology, family and community backgrounds, and personal histories.
Dubash discussed how this innovative methodological approach allows for a more nuanced examination of the dynamic interplay between depression and physical activity over time. “This technique enables us to consider several alternative explanations and adjusts for factors like genetics or early life experiences that might influence this relationship,” she explained.
The study confirms that physical activity and mental health are mutually influential. Regular physical activity can consistently enhance mood week by week. While earlier depression symptoms may linger, their long-term effects are generally less substantial than the effects of current physical activity. The research also indicates that untreated depression symptoms can have detrimental effects on physical activity levels over time, which may lead to further health complications.
Dubash concluded by stressing the importance of informed decision-making regarding mental health treatment, particularly with the awareness that physical activity remains one of the most effective ways to improve individual and community health. “However, it’s crucial that more people understand how depression symptoms can impact this process,” she added.
More information: Soli Dubash et al, The interplay of depression symptoms and physical activity: Bidirectional insights from 25-years of the Americans’ changing lives panel, Mental Health and Physical Activity. DOI: 10.1016/j.mhpa.2024.100599
Journal information: Mental Health and Physical Activity Provided by University of Toronto
