Study The Effect of a Structured Aerobic Exercise Program on Depression and Resilience in Women Undergoing Addiction Treatment: A Quasi-Experimental Study in Qom, Iran

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of a structured aerobic exercise program on depression and resilience among addicted women undergoing treatment in Qom, Iran.Methods: A quasi-experimental design with pretest and posttest measurements was employed, involving a control group.A total of 30 women meeting the inclusion criteria were purposively selected and randomly assigned to either an experimental group (n = 15) or a control group (n = 15).The experimental group participated in a 6-week aerobic exercise program, consisting of three sessions per week with progressively increasing intensity, while the control group received only routine center-based care.Data were collected using the General Health Questionnaire and Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale.Statistical analyses, including paired t-tests, analysis of covariance, and non-parametric equivalents, were conducted using SPSS software (version 25).Results: The findings revealed no statistically significant difference in depression symptoms between the two groups during the post-test phase (P > 0.05).However, a significant increase in resilience scores was observed in the experimental group compared to the control group (P = 0.003).Thus, although the exercise program did not significantly reduce depressive symptoms, it markedly enhanced resilience among participants in the experimental group.Conclusion: Incorporating structured aerobic exercise into treatment programs may serve as a complementary, low-cost intervention to strengthen resilience and improve coping capacities among women undergoing addiction treatment.Longer or combined interventions may be necessary to achieve clinically significant effects on depression.