The longitudinal reciprocal association between depression and physical activity in old age: The role of lifetime cumulative adversity

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Objective: This study investigated the reciprocal nature of the depression–physical activity relationship with reference to lifetime cumulative adversity (LCA), over a period of 8 years across 5 time points in aging. Method: Based on data from the Survey of Health Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE), the sample included 21,996 participants between the ages of 50 and 100 years (M = 65.5, SD = 9.1). The analysis was designed as a random intercept cross-lagged panel model. The trajectories measured were depression and physical activity. The independent variable, LCA, was created by the sum of stressful events, and the analyses controlled for background characteristics. Results: The findings revealed that physical activity significantly reduced the risk for depression at two time points along the study, whereas depression significantly reduced future physical activity during the entire period examined. Further, a higher level of LCA was associated with lower baseline levels of physical activity and higher levels of depression (β = −0.04, p < 0.001; β = 0.12, p < 0.001; respectively). Conclusions: The results support a bidirectional relation between physical activity and depression, with stronger evidence for depression to physical activity. Interventions targeting the vulnerable population with a history of cumulative adversity, and utilizing techniques to mitigate depressive symptoms, may help to decrease the risk for physical inactivity and other health consequences in this population.

Original languageEnglish
Article number100591
JournalMental Health and Physical Activity
Volume26
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 2024

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2024 Elsevier Ltd

Keywords

  • Aging
  • Cumulative adversity
  • Depression
  • Physical activity

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'The longitudinal reciprocal association between depression and physical activity in old age: The role of lifetime cumulative adversity'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this