Physical activity and its specific domains associated with depressive symptoms: a cross-sectional large population survey

Abstract

Background: Depression constitutes a significant global public health challenge, impacting millions of people worldwide. Research has consistently demonstrated the positive effects of physical activity (PA) on depression through various mechanisms. However, there remains a lack of consensus regarding the specific domains of PA and how they can affect mental health, specifically depressive symptoms. We aimed to evaluate the association of total PA and its specific domains with depressive symptoms. Methods: This cross-sectional study used data from the second round of the Urban Health Equity Assessment and Response Tool (Urban HEART-2) with a total of 17 006 participants aged 15 years and older. Physical activity was assessed using the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ), while depression was measured using the General Health Questionnaire-28 (GHQ-28). Using multiple linear regression, we analyzed the data while controlling for potential confounding factors. Results: The study population had a mean age of 45.5 ± 17 years, with females representing 54%. Moderate total PA was associated with a 13% lower prevalence of depression in males (PRR = 0.87; 95% CI = 0.79–0.95; P = 0.001), while no significant association was found in females. Sufficient travel PA demonstrated a protective effect against depression, reducing prevalence by 12% in males (PRR = 0.88; 95% CI = 0.82–0.96; P = 0.003) and by 7% in females (PRR = 0.93; 95% CI = 0.86–0.99; P = 0.033). However, sufficient work PA was associated with an increased prevalence of depression in both males (PRR = 1.16; 95% CI = 1.07–1.26; P < 0.001) and females (PRR = 1.18; 95% CI = 1.09–1.27; P < 0.001). Conclusion: our study suggests that sufficient total PA and sufficient travel PA can lead to diminishing depressive symptoms. Also, fruit consumption can modify the relationship between PA and depressive symptoms. Further studies are needed to explore the relationship between domains of PA and depression, as well as the mechanisms and causal pathways underlying the interaction of fruit consumption and PA on depressive symptoms.