BACKGROUND: Exercise effectively reduces symptoms of depression. However, correlates of regular exercise in depressed women are unknown. This study assessed psychosocial determinants of exercise in a sample of women with depressive symptoms. METHODS: Sixty-one women completed demographic, depression, and exercise-related questionnaires. RESULTS: The average Primary Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) depression score was 12.1 (SD = 5.0), indicating moderate depressive symptoms. In the previous week, the women reported 12.8 metabolic equivalents (METs) of exercise. Low levels of self-efficacy and social support for exercise were also reported. Depressive symptoms were positively associated with barriers to exercise (r = .35, P < .01), and barriers were inversely related to exercise METs (r = -.37, P < .05). Barriers to activity and education level were significant determinants of exercise. CONCLUSIONS: Women with depressive symptoms report minimal exercise involvement, numerous barriers to exercise, and low exercise self-efficacy and social support for exercise.
BACKGROUND: Exercise effectively reduces symptoms of depression. However, correlates of regular exercise in depressed women are unknown. This study assessed psychosocial determinants of exercise in a sample of women with depressive symptoms. METHODS: Sixty-one women completed demographic, depression, and exercise-related questionnaires. RESULTS: The average Primary Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) depression score was 12.1 (SD = 5.0), indicating moderate depressive symptoms. In the previous week, the women reported 12.8 metabolic equivalents (METs) of exercise. Low levels of self-efficacy and social support for exercise were also reported. Depressive symptoms were positively associated with barriers to exercise (r = .35, P < .01), and barriers were inversely related to exercise METs (r = -.37, P < .05). Barriers to activity and education level were significant determinants of exercise. CONCLUSIONS:Women with depressive symptoms report minimal exercise involvement, numerous barriers to exercise, and low exercise self-efficacy and social support for exercise.
Authors: Samantha G Farris; Michelle L Davis; David Rosenfield; Brooke Y Kauffman; Scarlett O Baird; Mark B Powers; Michael W Otto; Bess H Marcus; Timothy S Church; Jasper A J Smits; Michael J Zvolensky Journal: Ment Health Phys Act Date: 2016-05-10
Authors: Michaela C Pascoe; Alan P Bailey; Melinda Craike; Tim Carter; Rhiannon Patten; Nigel K Stepto; Alexandra G Parker Journal: BMJ Open Sport Exerc Med Date: 2020-05-04
Authors: Michaela Pascoe; Alan P Bailey; Melinda Craike; Tim Carter; Rhiannon Patten; Nigel Stepto; Alexandra Parker Journal: BMJ Open Sport Exerc Med Date: 2020-01-23
Authors: Michaela C Pascoe; Alan P Bailey; Melinda Craike; Tim Carter; Rhiannon K Patten; Nigel K Stepto; Alexandra G Parker Journal: Early Interv Psychiatry Date: 2020-09-13 Impact factor: 2.732