Journal
HEALTHCARE
Volume 10, Issue 2, Pages -Publisher
MDPI
DOI: 10.3390/healthcare10020363
Keywords
health; depression; physical activity; antidepressants; strength
Funding
- Fundacion Jovenes y Deporte de la Junta de Extremadura [0499_4IE_PLUS_4_E]
- University of Extremadura [0499_4IE_PLUS_4_E]
- Programa Interreg VA Espana-Portugal (POCTEP) 2014-2020 [0499_4IE_PLUS_4_E]
- Desarrollo del Observatorio El Ejercicio Te Cuida
- Spanish Ministry of Education, Culture, and Sport [FPU20/04201]
- MCIN/AEI [FPU20/04201]
- European Social Found Investing in your future
- European Union NextGenerationEU/PRTR
Ask authors/readers for more resources
This study found an inverse relationship between physical activity and the prevalence of depression and the intake of antidepressants. Performing physical activity 3-4 days/week, including 1-2 days of strength work, could be the best proposal for reducing the prevalence of depression in the Spanish population.
Introduction: Depression is a mental disorder that affects more than 250 million people in the world, limiting their functional capacities. The work of public health policies is aimed at reducing its prevalence as well as its pharmaceutical cost. Physical activity (PA) programs are interventions with a high potential for effectiveness. Objectives: To establish the relationships between physical activity and the prevalence of depression and antidepressant intake in the Spanish population. Design: We performed a correlational study that was based on data from the European Health Survey Spain 2020 with 20,287 participants, aged 18-84 years, living in Spain. Results: Dependency relationships were found between the prevalence of depression, and: the frequency of PA, the number of days of PA per week, and the number of days of muscle strengthening in the population, in both sexes, and in all age groups (p < 0.001). Dependency relationships were found between the three PA variables and the prevalence of taking antidepressants (p < 0.001). An elevated prevalence of depression and antidepressant taking were found in the inactive groups compared to those who performed PA (p < 0.05). Conclusions: There is an inverse relationship between physical activity and the probability of suffering from depression and the intake of antidepressants. Performing PA 3-4 days/week, including 1-2 days of strength work, could be the best proposal to reduce the prevalence of depression in the Spanish population.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available