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Physical Activity and Physical Fitness in Treating Depression and Boosting Mental Health

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A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Mental Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 January 2022) | Viewed by 59176

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Adilson Marques

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Guest Editor

Faculdade de Motricidade Humana, Universidade de Lisboa, 1499-002 Cruz Quebrada, Portugal
Interests: health promotion; correlates of physical activity, fitness, and physical education
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Eugenia Murawska-Ciałowicz

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Assistant Guest Editor

Physiology and Biochemistry Department, Wroclaw University of Health and Sport Sciences, Wroclaw, Poland
Interests: biology; biochemistry and physiology of exercise; exercise and performance; exercise monitoring; physical activity assessment; exercise benefits; physiological adaptation; adipose tissue; adipokines; myokines; BDNF; irisin; neuroplasticity
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Diego Gomez-Baya

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Assistant Guest Editor

Department of Social, Developmental and Educational Psychology, Universidad de Huelva, 21071 Huelva, Spain
Interests: mental health; children; adolescent; lifestyles; positive development
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Depression is a mental health problem related to indicators such as depressed mood, poor concentration, loss of interest, sleeping troubles, feelings of guilt, disturbed appetite, and decreased energy. In recent years, depression has been the most prevalent mental disorder. Depression affects relationships with others, education and work opportunities, and quality of life. Unfortunately, it is a transversal problem, affecting people of both sexes at different ages and different educational and socioeconomic backgrounds.

There is evidence that physical activity and physical fitness provide a protective effect against depression and have a positive effect on treatment in nonclinical and clinical populations. The evidence shows that the protective effects of physical activity and physical fitness in depression are independent of sex and age.

We will accept manuscripts from different disciplines. Special attention will be paid to original research, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses involving the following topics for this Special issue in IJERPH:

– Physical activity, physical fitness, and depression in young people.

– Physical activity, physical fitness, and depression in the general population.

– Physical activity, physical fitness, and depression in people with special needs.

– Relationship between depression, physical activity, and physical fitness stratified by sociodemographic characteristics.

– Adherence to physical activity practice in people with depressive symptoms.

– Emotions in physical activity, sports, and exercise.

– Social influences in physical activity, sports, and exercise in people with depressive symptoms.

– Mechanisms that explain the relationship between physical activity, physical fitness, and depression.

– Relationship between depressive symptoms and the decline in physical activity and physical fitness levels.

Studies do not necessarily have to offer positive results (i.e., results confirming previous literature). Rigorous works where the conclusions offer novelties presenting exceptions to previous studies are also welcome.

Dr. Adilson Marques
Dr. Eugenia Murawska-Ciałowicz
Dr. Diego Gomez-Baya
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2500 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

Mental health
Anxiety
Feeling low
Sport
Physical exercise
Exercise and neuroplasticity

Published Papers (13 papers)

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Research

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11 pages, 522 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Gender Differences in the Association between Physical Inactivity and Mental-Health Conditions in People with Vision or Hearing Impairment

by Guillermo F. López-Sánchez, Lee Smith, Rubén López-Bueno and Shahina Pardhan

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(6), 3307; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph19063307 - 11 Mar 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2216

Abstract

This study aimed to examine associations between physical inactivity and mental health in Spanish adults with vision or hearing difficulties and explored differences between men and women. Data from the Spanish National Health Survey in 2017 were analyzed (n = 23,089 adults, 15–103 years, mean age 53.4 ± 18.9 years, 45.9% men). Physical inactivity (exposure) was evaluated with the International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short Form. Participants self-reported whether they had previously suffered from depression, chronic anxiety and other mental-health complications (outcomes). Associations between physical inactivity and mental-health complications were assessed with multivariable logistic regression in people with difficulty seeing and hearing, after grouping by gender and adjusting for age, body-mass index, education level, living as a couple, smoking and alcohol consumption. The overall multivariable logistic-regression analyses showed that women with vision impairment showed significant associations between physical inactivity and depression (OR 1.403, 95% CI 1.015–1.940) and other mental-health complications (OR 2.959, 95% CI 1.434–6.104). In the overall analyses, there were no significant associations in men and in people with hearing impairment. The age-stratified analyses showed that inactive people with visual impairment who were <65 years old had a higher risk of mental-health conditions. In conclusion, physical activity has been shown to be important in the prevention of mental-health complications. Healthcare practitioners and policy makers should look at appropriate strategies to increase levels of physical activity in people with vision loss, especially in women and in those <65 years old. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical Activity and Physical Fitness in Treating Depression and Boosting Mental Health)

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17 pages, 2555 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of a Web-Based Parent–Child Physical Activity Program on Mental Health in Parents of Children with ASD

by Mengxian Zhao, Yonghao You, Shihui Chen, Linlin Li, Xiru Du and Yongtai Wang

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(24), 12913; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph182412913 - 07 Dec 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3597

Abstract

Parents of children with ASD experience a higher incidence of mental health difficulties, including stress, depression, and anxiety, than parents of children without ASD. According to studies related to ASD, parent–child physical activity programs are an effective approach to encourage both parents and their children with ASD to exercise together, thus improving the mental health of parents due to this interactive family activity. The purpose of the present study was to explore the effects of this web-based parent–child physical activity program on the mental health of parents of children with ASD. A total of 94 parent–child pairs consented to participate in this study, and 75 parent–child pairs completed the study. Three instruments—DASS-21, PSI-4-SF, and WHOQOL-26—were used to measure mental health, parental stress, and quality of life, respectively. A randomized controlled trial design was implemented to examine the effectiveness of the 10-week web-based parent–child physical activity program on improving the mental health of parents of children with ASD. The results showed that after the 10-week parent–child physical activity program, there were significant differences in overall DASS-21 and PSI-4-SF for the experimental group, compared with control group (p < 0.05), which indicated that the parent–child physical activity program has a positive influence on mental health in parents of children with ASD. One sub-area of WHOQOL-26 between the experimental and control groups across pre-/post-testing intervals also showed greater reductions in the item of psychological health (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the findings demonstrated the efficacy of the web-based parent–child physical activity program for improving mental health in parents of children with ASD. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical Activity and Physical Fitness in Treating Depression and Boosting Mental Health)

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28 pages, 4136 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Exploring a Complementary Stress Management and Wellbeing Intervention Model for Teachers: Participant Experience

by Stevie-Jae Hepburn, Annemaree Carroll and Louise McCuaig

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(17), 9009; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph18179009 - 26 Aug 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 4054

Abstract

Background: work-related stress can have alarming physiological and psychological health impacts, which may permeate into personal and professional contexts. Teachers need to be supported to develop the skills and strategies to effectively identify how stress manifests and how to use simple, practical techniques to manage and reduce the impact of stress. Complementary interventions (CIs) for educators may provide stress management and assist with supporting wellbeing at the individual level. Methods: the convergent mixed-methods study included participant reflections, self-report measures for perceived stress, mindful attention awareness, and subjective wellbeing and biological measures (salivary cortisol levels). Data analysis: inductive thematic analysis and mixed-methods case study design. Results: the participants shared that they experienced benefits in personal and professional contexts, behavioural changes, increased awareness of the impact of stress, and a decrease in the stress response. The participant reflections provided contextual information surrounding the self-report and biological measures. The inferences generated were reflected in both datasets. The findings supported the proposed model linking the mechanisms present in the techniques from the system of yoga and the dimensions of wellbeing. Conclusions: the findings suggest that a CI for educators may provide strategies for supporting wellbeing and assisting with stress management. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical Activity and Physical Fitness in Treating Depression and Boosting Mental Health)

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9 pages, 873 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Relationships between Depression, Daily Physical Activity, Physical Fitness, and Daytime Sleepiness among Japanese University Students

by Hideki Shimamoto, Masataka Suwa and Koh Mizuno

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(15), 8036; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph18158036 - 29 Jul 2021

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 4645

Abstract

In Japan and other developed countries, the lifestyles of many—particularly the younger generation—have been disrupted in recent years. This disruption may manifest as a decrease in physical activity and deterioration in the quality and quantity of sleep. Depressive tendencies are also increasing among university students. This study examined the relationship between mental health, physical activity, physical fitness, and daytime sleepiness. Eighty-five undergraduate students participated in this study (52 men and 33 women, aged 18.9 (±1.4) years). Physical activity levels were measured using an accelerometer (Lifecorder, Kenz, Nagoya, Japan) for two weeks. To evaluate their level of physical fitness, maximal oxygen uptake (

\dot{V}

O₂max) was calculated by an indirect method using a cycle ergometer. Depressive tendencies and daytime sleepiness were evaluated using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). The PHQ-9 score was positively correlated with sleepiness (r = 0.35, p = 0.001) and total steps per day (r = 0.39, p < 0.001). Moreover, the PHQ-9 score was positively correlated with

\dot{V}

O₂max (r = 0.25, p = 0.019). The PHQ-9 score was higher in students with good exercise habits or part-time jobs. An important finding was the positive correlation between depression and variables related to physical activity levels. These results suggest that vigorous physical activity, such as exercise and part-time jobs, might be positively associated with depressive tendencies among university students. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical Activity and Physical Fitness in Treating Depression and Boosting Mental Health)

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25 pages, 1204 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Complementary Intervention to Promote Wellbeing and Stress Management for Early Career Teachers

by Stevie-Jae Hepburn, Annemaree Carroll and Louise McCuaig-Holcroft

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(12), 6320; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph18126320 - 11 Jun 2021

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 5357

Abstract

The educational climate and culture in our schools present a variety of environmental (contextual) factors that influence teacher wellbeing, job satisfaction, and work-related stress. The magnitude of contextual factors cannot be ignored, and directing attention towards the environment teachers face daily is essential. Primary (organisational)-level interventions are documented in organisational health and wellbeing literature; however, to provide teachers with stress management strategies for promoting wellbeing, attention must also be directed towards secondary (individual)-level interventions. The present study addressed the issue of stress management techniques for early career teachers (n = 24) and aimed to contribute to the research surrounding complementary interventions (CIs) for educators. The intervention was designed to include strategies that operated through cognitive and physiological mechanisms that regulated the stress response and increased awareness of behaviours, emotions, and reactivity. The self-report measures included perceived stress, attention awareness, subjective wellbeing, burnout, and job-related affective wellbeing. The results indicated a statistically significant decrease in perceived stress and increases in attention awareness and subjective wellbeing. The salivary cortisol levels (waking and resting) decreased from baseline to week 6, and the pre- and post-session salivary cortisol levels indicated an immediate decrease in cortisol for weeks 4 to 6. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical Activity and Physical Fitness in Treating Depression and Boosting Mental Health)

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12 pages, 339 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Physical Activity and the Emotional State of Physiotherapy Students Who Finish Their Education

by Joanna Kowalska, Dorota Wójtowicz and Joanna Szczepańska-Gieracha

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(9), 4572; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph18094572 - 26 Apr 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2145

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the emotional state and the level of the sense of coherence in the context of physical activity among physiotherapy students and investigate how the participating students’ emotional state changed after two years of studying and what factors were associated with the mood disorders. The study group consisted of 110 students—79 female and 31 male. The Back Depression Inventory (BDI), the Sense of Coherence Questionnaire (SOC-29) and the Perceived Stress Questionnaire (PSQ) were used. The results presented an increase in depressive symptoms during the studies of a group of physiotherapy students. Physical activity can play a protective role in the prevention and treatment of mood disorders. The students who regularly engaged in physical activity exhibited better mood, a lower perceived stress level and a higher level of the sense of coherence as compared to the physically inactive students. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical Activity and Physical Fitness in Treating Depression and Boosting Mental Health)

10 pages, 700 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Organized Sport Participation, Physical Activity, Sleep and Screen Time in 16-Year-Old Adolescents

by Elvar S. Saevarsson, Vaka Rognvaldsdottir, Runa Stefansdottir and Erlingur Johannsson

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(6), 3162; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph18063162 - 18 Mar 2021

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3095

Abstract

This study aimed to examine the association of different frequencies of organized sport participation (OSP) with physical activity, cardiorespiratory fitness, body composition, sleep, and screen time among adolescents. A cross-sectional study involving 315 16-year-old adolescents was conducted. OSP was self-reported, being categorized as 0 times a week, less than three times a week, 4–5 times a week, and 6–7 times a week, on average. Screen time was also self-reported but physical activity and sleep duration were objectively measured. Cardiorespiratory fitness and body composition were measured using a maximal cycle ergometer test and a dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scan, respectively. An analysis of covariance revealed a significant association between OSP and physical activity (F (3, 286) = 14.53, p < 0.01), cardiorespiratory fitness (F (3, 236) = 17.64, p < 0.01), screen time (F (3, 294) = 8.14, p < 0.01), body fat percentage (F (3, 292) = 11.84, p < 0.01), and fat free mass (F (3, 290) = 5.76, p < 0.01. No significant association was found between OSP and sleep duration. Post hoc analyses showed that OSP at least four times a week was beneficial to favorable physical activity levels, cardiorespiratory fitness, screen time, and body composition and may therefore serve as a valuable tool in battling unhealthy lifestyle behaviors among adolescents. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical Activity and Physical Fitness in Treating Depression and Boosting Mental Health)

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13 pages, 1069 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Analysis of Body Perception, Preworkout Meal Habits and Bone Resorption in Child Gymnasts

by Alessandra Amato, Patrizia Proia, Gaetano Felice Caldara, Angelina Alongi, Vincenzo Ferrantelli and Sara Baldassano

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(4), 2184; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph18042184 - 23 Feb 2021

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 3675

Abstract

The beneficial effects of physical activity on body image perception and bone are debated among artistic gymnasts. Gymnasts seem to be at greater risk of developing body dissatisfaction, eating disorders and osteoporosis due to inadequate nutrition and attention to the appearance of the body. The objective of this work was to investigate the association between the artistic gymnast and a more favorable body image compared to their sedentary peers and if a preworkout high-carbohydrate meal (HCM; 300 kcal, 88% carbohydrates, 9% protein, 3% fat) or high-protein meal (HPM; 300 kcal, 55% carbohydrates, 31% protein, 13% fat) is able to attenuate bone resorption in young rhythmic gymnasts. Twenty-eight preadolescent female gymnasts were examined. Self-esteem tests were used to analyze body image perception. Preworkout eating habits were examined by short food frequency questions (FFQ) validated for children. The biomarker of the bone resorption C-terminal telopeptide region of collagen type 1 (CTX) was measured in the urine (fasting, postmeal and postworkout). Gymnasts reported higher satisfaction with their body appearance compared to sedentary peers. Of the gymnasts, 30% did not have a preworkout meal regularly, and the timing of the consumption was variable. Bone resorption was decreased by the HCM, consumed 90 min before the training, with respect to the HPM. The study suggests that playing artistic gymnastics is associated with a positive body self-perception in a child. The variability in preworkout meal frequency and timing need attention to prevent inadequate eating habits in light of the ability of the HCM to reduce acute bone resorption. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical Activity and Physical Fitness in Treating Depression and Boosting Mental Health)

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11 pages, 714 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Let’s Live Healthier: The Relationship between Suicidal Behavior and Physical Activity in an Age-, Gender-, and Body Mass Index-Matched Adults

by Jeong-Hui Park, Myong-Won Seo, Hyun Chul Jung and Jung-Min Lee

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(22), 8350; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph17228350 - 11 Nov 2020

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2013

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to identify the association between physical activity (PA) and predictors of suicidal behaviors and to investigate whether the different PA measurements influence the association between PA and suicidal behaviors in South Korean adults. This study analyzed data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2014–2015 data. The study selected participants who checked suicide-related questions as “Yes” (n = 99) and checked suicide-related questions as “No” (n = 99) in the questionnaire. The age, gender, and body mass index of participants between the two groups were matched. The moderate to vigorous PA (p = 0.000) and sedentary PA (p = 0.000), measured by accelerometers, were a significant risk factor for suicidal behaviors. Furthermore, the number of steps was a considerable difference between the two groups (healthy group: 61,495.76 steps; suicide group: 40,517.34 steps), and the accelerometer and questionnaire also showed significant differences. The study demonstrated that there were significant associations with physical activity and socioeconomic status and suicidal behaviors in anthropometry (i.e., age, gender, height, weight) matched groups. Additionally, this study highlights the importance of the assessment of PAs, and increasing PA levels could reduce the incidence of suicidal behaviors. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical Activity and Physical Fitness in Treating Depression and Boosting Mental Health)

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10 pages, 325 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Association of Grip Strength with Depressive Symptoms among Middle-Aged and Older Adults with Different Chronic Diseases

by Priscila Marconcin, Miguel Peralta, Gerson Ferrari, Margarida Gaspar de Matos, Margarida Espanha, Eugenia Murawska-Ciałowicz and Adilson Marques

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(19), 6942; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph17196942 - 23 Sep 2020

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 2517

Abstract

Low grip strength has been associated with an increase in depressive symptoms, independent of age group or gender, although the literature has not investigated this association among different chronic diseases. The present study aims to investigate the association of grip strength and depressive symptoms among middle-aged and older adults with different chronic diseases. A cross-section of data from the Survey of Health, Ageing, and Retirement in Europe wave 6 (collected in 2015) was analysed. Grip strength was measured by a handgrip dynamometer, and the European Depression Symptoms 12-item scale (EURO-D) was used to assess depressive symptoms. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was conducted. Those in the high strength tertile had 42% (95% confidence interval: 0.50, 0.71; p < 0.005) and 41% (95% confidence interval: 0.50, 0.70; p < 0.001) lower odds of depressive symptoms in the ‘no disease’ and in the ‘metabolic diseases’ groups of participants, respectively, compared with those in the lower strength tertile. No statistically significant relationship between grip strength and depression was observed in the ‘arthritis diseases’ group of participants. The association of grip strength with depressive symptoms must consider, besides gender and age group, the chronic conditions that an individual could have. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical Activity and Physical Fitness in Treating Depression and Boosting Mental Health)

Review

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13 pages, 723 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperReview

The Effects of Physical Exercise on Mental Health: From Cognitive Improvements to Risk of Addiction

by Pasquale Caponnetto, Mirko Casu, Miriam Amato, Dario Cocuzza, Valeria Galofaro, Alessandra La Morella, Sara Paladino, Kamil Pulino, Nicoletta Raia, Flavia Recupero, Cristian Resina, Samuele Russo, Laura Maria Terranova, Jennifer Tiralongo and Maria Chiara Vella

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(24), 13384; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph182413384 - 19 Dec 2021

Cited by 21 | Viewed by 11342

Abstract

(1) Background: we aimed to investigate the effects of physical activity on cognitive functions and deficits of healthy population and other needy groups. Secondly, we investigated the relation between healthy habits and psychopathological risks. Finally, we investigated the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on exercise addiction and possible associated disorders. (2) Methods: From April 2021 to October 2021, we conducted a review aimed at identifying the effects of physical exercise on mental health, from cognitive improvements to risk of addiction; we searched for relevant studies on PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, PsycINFO and CINHAL. (3) Results: For the first purpose, results indicated multiple effects such as better precision and response speed in information processing tasks on healthy populations; improvement of executive functions, cognitive flexibility and school performance in children; improvement of attention and executive functions and less hyperactivity and impulsiveness on children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD); improvement of executive and global functions on adults; improvement of overall cognitive functioning on patients with schizophrenic spectrum disorder or bipolar disorder. Data also demonstrated that exercise addiction seems to be related to low levels of education, low self-esteem, eating disorders and body dysmorphisms. Eventually, it was found that people with lower traits and intolerance of uncertainty show a strong association between COVID-19 anxiety and compulsive exercise and eating disorder. (4) Conclusions: these findings underline on one side the beneficial effects of physical activity on cognitive function in healthy individuals in a preventive and curative key, while on the other side the importance of an adequate evaluation of psychological distress and personality characteristics associated with exercise addiction. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical Activity and Physical Fitness in Treating Depression and Boosting Mental Health)

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22 pages, 1968 KiB

Open AccessReview

The Effects of Exclusively Resistance Training-Based Supervised Programs in People with Depression: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

by Lara Carneiro, José Afonso, Rodrigo Ramirez-Campillo, Eugenia Murawska-Ciałowciz, Adilson Marques and Filipe Manuel Clemente

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(18), 6715; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph17186715 - 15 Sep 2020

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 7426

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to systematically review the effects of supervised resistance training (RT) programs in people diagnosed with depression or depressive symptoms. The following databases were used to search and retrieve the articles: Cochrane Library, EBSCO, PEDro, PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science. The search was conducted in late June 2020. Search protocol required the title to contain the words depression or depressive or dysthymia. Furthermore, the title, abstract or keywords had to contain the words or expressions: “randomized controlled trial”; and “strength training” or “resistance training” or “resisted training” or “weight training”. The screening provided 136 results. After the removal of duplicates, 70 records remained. Further screening of titles and abstracts resulted in the elimination of 57 papers. Therefore, 13 records were eligible for further scrutiny. Of the 13 records, nine were excluded, and the final sample consisted of four articles. Results were highly heterogeneous, with half of the studies showing positive effects of resistance training and half showing no effects. In two of the four combinations, the meta-analysis revealed significant benefits of RT in improving depressive symptoms (p ≤ 0.05). However, considering significant differences with moderate (Effect Size = 0.62) and small (ES = 0.53) effects, the heterogeneity was above 50%, thus suggesting a substantial level. To draw meaningful conclusions, future well-designed randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are needed that focus on understudied RT as a treatment for depression. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical Activity and Physical Fitness in Treating Depression and Boosting Mental Health)

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13 pages, 1170 KiB

Open AccessReview

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

by Adilson Marques, Diego Gomez-Baya, Miguel Peralta, Diana Frasquilho, Teresa Santos, João Martins, Gerson Ferrari and Margarida Gaspar de Matos

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(16), 5674; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph17165674 - 06 Aug 2020

Cited by 35 | Viewed by 5037

Abstract

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. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical Activity and Physical Fitness in Treating Depression and Boosting Mental Health)

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