Moderating Effect of Muscular Strength in the Association Between Cancer and Depressive Symptomatology
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Depression, as one of the leading causes of disease burden, frequently co-occurs with other diseases. Cancer seems to be strongly associated with depression more than any other disease. As an outcome of physical fitness, muscular strength seems to have a protective effect on depression. This study aimed to analyze how muscular strength moderates the relationship between cancer and depressive symptomatology among older European adults. METHODS: Cross-sectional data from wave 8 (2019/2020), including 41,666 participants (17,986 males) of the population-based Survey of Health, Aging, and Retirement in Europe, were analyzed. Grip strength, used as the moderator, was measured twice on each hand using a dynamometer. The EURO-D 12-item scale was used to measure depressive symptomatology. RESULTS: Grip strength had a significant effect as a moderator in the association between cancer and depressive symptoms (male: B = -0.025, 95% CI = -0.04, -0.01; female: B = -0.02, 95% CI = -0.04, 0.00). Also, the grip strength moderation values are below 55.3 kg for males and 39.4 kg for females. CONCLUSIONS: Muscular strength, as measured by grip strength, moderated the relationship between cancer and depressive symptomatology. This supports the theory that recovery programs could include physical activity, namely muscle-strengthening exercises, to prevent depression.
Source: Healthcare
Language: English
Topic: Cancer survivorship and care
Subfield: Oncology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,258
OpenAlex ID: W4408829419