Work

Moderating effects of clock genes DNA methylation on the relationship between physical activity trajectories and depressive symptoms among Chinese college students.

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: OBJECTIVES: To explore the 2-year physical activity trajectory of Chinese college students and further examine the longitudinal relationship between physical activity trajectory and depressive symptoms. Furthermore, our study aimed to clarify the potential role of clock genes deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) methylation in the association between physical activity and depressive symptoms. METHOD: From April 2019 to May 2021, College Student Behavior and Health Cohort Study was conducted among 1,179 students from two universities in Anhui and Jiangxi provinces. Latent Class Growth Model was applied to simulate and group physical activity in a total of five surveys. The PROCESS macro for SPSS was used to analyze the moderating effects of clock genes DNA methylation on the association between physical activity and depressive symptoms. RESULTS: gene. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggests that long-term low physical activity was connected to more severe depressive symptoms among college students, and clock genes DNA methylation may play a negative moderating role, attenuating the positive effect of high intensity physical activity levels on depressive symptoms. In this regard, intervention programs regarding depressive symptoms among Chinese college students should consider multiple approaches such as increasing the duration and intensity of physical activity. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).

Source: Health Psychology

DOI: 10.1037/hea0001332