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Symptoms of Depression, Physical Activity, and Sedentary Time: Within-Person Relations From Age 6 to 18 in a Birth Cohort

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To examine the within-person relations between objectively measured physical activity and clinically assessed symptoms of depressive disorders from childhood to late adolescence. METHOD: Seven waves of biennially collected data from a Norwegian birth-cohort (n = 873; 53% girls) followed from age 6 to 18 years were used. Accelerometers were used to assess total physical activity, moderate-to vigorous physical activity, and sedentary time, and symptoms of depression were assessed by semi-structured psychiatric interviews. Mediators (athletic self-esteem, body image, sports participation) were captured by questionnaires. Random intercept cross-lagged panel models were estimated to test the within-person relations and their potential mediators. RESULTS: From ages 14 to 16 and 16 to 18 years, significant within-person relations were found. Decreased levels of total physical activity (PA) and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) predicted more symptoms of depression (PA: 14-16 years: β = -0.08; 16-18 years: β = -0.09; MVPA: 14-16 years: β = -0.10; 16-18 years: β = -0.07). These relations were not evident at earlier ages. From ages 10 to 12 and 14 to 16 years, an increased number of depressive symptoms predicted decreased levels of physical activity (PA: 10-12 years: β = -0.10; 14-16 years: β = -0.14: MVPA: 10-12 years: β = -0.10; 14-16 years: β = -0.17). We found no evidence for within-person relations between sedentary time and depressive symptoms, and no significant sex differences or mediations. CONCLUSION: Individuals who increase their physical activity levels from middle to late adolescence are less likely to develop symptoms of depression compared to what they otherwise would. Thus, in this age period, physical activity may protect against depressive symptoms. PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARY: Using data from a Norwegian birth cohort (n = 873), this study found that from ages 14 to 18, decreased physical activity predicted more depressive symptoms, while increased depressive symptoms predicted decreased physical activity from ages 10 to 12 and 14 to 16. No significant correlations were found for sedentary time. These findings suggest that physical activity may protect against depressive symptoms from middle to late adolescence.

Source: Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry

DOI: 10.1016/j.jaac.2025.03.018

Authors: Silje Steinsbekk, Joakim Skoog, Lars Wichstrøm

Institutions: Norwegian University of Science and Technology, St Olav's University Hospital

Language: English

Topic: Physical Activity and Health

Subfield: Physiology

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,710