Key result
Depression is linked to ~42% higher odds of low physical activity.
Why the study?
Is depression associated with low physical activity in adults from low- and middle-income countries?
Is depression associated with low physical activity in adults from low- and middle-income countries?
Individuals with depression in low- and middle-income countries engage in significantly lower levels of physical activity, a relationship largely mediated by mobility limitations and pain.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
May warrant physical activity assessment in LMIC depression care; leaves open causality and intervention effects.
OBJECTIVE: Physical activity (PA) is good for health, yet several small-scale studies have suggested that depression is associated with low PA. A paucity of nationally representative studies investigating this relationship exists, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). This study explored the global association of PA with depression and its mediating factors. METHOD: Participants from 36 LMICs from the World Health Survey were included. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were undertaken exploring the relationship between PA and depression. RESULTS: Across 178 867 people (mean ± SD age = 36.2 ± 13.5 years; 49.9% male), the prevalence of depression and the prevalence of low PA were 6.6% and 16.8% respectively. The prevalence of low PA was significantly higher among those with depression vs. no depression (26.0% vs. 15.8%, P < 0.0001). In the adjusted model, depression was associated with higher odds for low PA (OR = 1.42; 95% CI = 1.24-1.63). Mediation analyses demonstrated that low PA among people with depression was explained by mobility limitations (40.3%), pain and discomfort (35.8%), disruptions in sleep and energy (25.2%), cognition (19.4%) and vision (10.9%). CONCLUSION: Individuals with depression engage in lower levels of PA in LMICs. Future longitudinal research is warranted to better understand the relationships observed.
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Stubbs et al. (2016) studied this question. Depression was associated with significantly higher odds of low physical activity (OR=1.42; 95% CI=1.24-1.63) in a population-based study across 36 low- and middle-income countries.
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