Researchers at the University of Toronto have found a complex relationship between depression and physical activity among adults. Their study revealed that depression can lead to a drop in physical activity years later, though the opposite doesn’t necessarily apply—being inactive now doesn’t predict future depression. This finding underscores the significance of exercise in maintaining mental health, with effects comparable to those of antidepressants.
The study, which followed 3,499 U.S. adults from 1986 to 2011, employed a new causal inference technique to better understand the interactions between depression and physical activity over time. By controlling for individual life histories and other context, researchers could more accurately pinpoint the mutual effects of physical activity and depression.
One key takeaway is that depression symptoms can have a lasting impact on future activity levels. This could mean that if someone is struggling with depression today, they might be less inclined to engage in physical activities years later. However, being inactive now doesn’t seem to predict future depression. As Soli Dubash, a doctoral candidate at the University of Toronto, noted, “It was surprising to find that present depression symptoms can negatively impact your physical activity levels two to five years later, while being inactive today is not related to your future depression symptoms.”
The research offers an intriguing perspective on the benefits of physical activity. Many studies have already shown that engaging in exercise—whether it’s going to the gym, dancing, gardening, or taking a walk—can have a positive impact on both physical and mental health. This new study supports those conclusions, indicating that weekly physical activity correlates with improved mood.
Dubash emphasized that understanding the connection between mental health and physical activity can help individuals make more informed decisions about their health. He suggests that allowing people to explore these relationships for themselves is critical, and that it’s essential to recognize the potential impact that moving more or less can have on mood and overall well-being.
Importantly, this study also highlighted that untreated depression can have negative consequences for physical activity, which might then lead to other health problems down the line. Dubash explained that the new causal inference technique used in this study allows for a more nuanced view of these relationships by accounting for various factors like genetics or early life history that might have influenced the results in previous studies.
Ultimately, the findings suggest that while earlier depression symptoms can persist, their long-term effects may be less significant than the influence of current physical activity. The takeaway? Physical activity remains one of the best ways to boost mental health and should be part of a broader approach to treating depression.
