Regular physical activity reduces depressive symptoms among both men and women with mild to moderate depression, notably among women

 

Posted on January 29, 2015 by Stone Hearth News

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Physical Activity, Gender Difference, and Depressive Symptoms
Jun Zhang M.S.1 and
Steven T. Yen Ph.D.2,*
Article first published online: 28 JAN 2015
DOI: 10.1111/1475-6773.12285
Objective
To investigate the roles of physical activity (exercise) and sociodemographic factors in depressive symptoms among men and women in the United States.
Data Source
2011 U.S. Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS).
Study Design

  

Patient Health Questionnaire Depression Scale (PHQ-8) scores are aggregated and divided into five categories. An ordered switching probability model with binary endogenous physical activity is developed to accommodate ordinality of depression categories and ameliorate statistical biases due to endogeneity of physical activity.
Principal Findings
Average treatment effects suggest physical activity ameliorates depressive symptoms among mildly and moderately depressed individuals, most notably among mildly depressed women. Gender differences exist in the roles of sociodemographic factors, with age, income, race, education, employment status, and recent mental health condition playing differentiated roles in affecting depressive symptoms.
Conclusions
Regular physical activity reduces depressive symptoms among both men and women with mild to moderate depression, notably among women.
Source

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