Gender-specific dual effects of physical activity on depression and mortality: a nine-year cohort study in Chinese adults aged 45 and above
BackgroundRegular participation in physical activity (PA) reduces all-cause mortality (ACM) in the general population. However, the effects of PA on depressed patients and potential gender-specific responses have not been fully elucidated. In this study, we aimed to investigate the role of PA on new...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Public Health |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1510044/full |
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| author | Dan Shan Dan Shan Meina Yang Meina Yang Kunyan Zhou Kunyan Zhou |
| author_facet | Dan Shan Dan Shan Meina Yang Meina Yang Kunyan Zhou Kunyan Zhou |
| author_sort | Dan Shan |
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| description | BackgroundRegular participation in physical activity (PA) reduces all-cause mortality (ACM) in the general population. However, the effects of PA on depressed patients and potential gender-specific responses have not been fully elucidated. In this study, we aimed to investigate the role of PA on new-onset depression and ACM in Chinese adults aged 45 year and older, with particular emphasis on gender differences.MethodsThis was a longitudinal cohort study that took place over a nine-year period and featured 2,264 participants drawn from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). PA levels were categorized into quartiles using metabolic equivalents (MET; minutes/week), and depression was evaluated according to the 10-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CESD-10) scale. Specific relationships between PA, depression, and mortality were then investigated by applying multivariate logistic regression and Cox proportional hazards models.ResultsHighest quantile levels of PA were correlated with a 37% increase in the risk of new-onset depression in middle-aged (45–59 years) and older adults (>60 years). This association was predominantly influenced by a significant increase in the risk of mild depression (a score of 10–14 on the CESD-10) (odds ratio [OR]: 1.76; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.29–2.42, p < 0.001), with a more pronounced effect observed in women (OR: 1.83; 95% CI: 1.26–2.66, p = 0.002). A critical threshold for PA was identified at 4536 MET-minutes/week, beyond which the risk of depression increased significantly (p < 0.05). Conversely, higher levels of PA were linked to a 90% reduction in ACM (HR: 0.10; 95% CI: 0.02–0.44, p = 0.002), with the effect being more pronounced in men.ConclusionWhile PA reduces mortality, excessive activity may increase the risk of mild depression, particularly in women. These findings highlight the need for gender-specific PA guidelines that balance physical and mental health outcomes. |
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| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2296-2565 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
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| series | Frontiers in Public Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-5c9a3fb081aa49a588e7e2185a8481972025-01-21T13:14:41ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Public Health2296-25652025-01-011310.3389/fpubh.2025.15100441510044Gender-specific dual effects of physical activity on depression and mortality: a nine-year cohort study in Chinese adults aged 45 and aboveDan Shan0Dan Shan1Meina Yang2Meina Yang3Kunyan Zhou4Kunyan Zhou5Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, ChinaKey Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Sichuan University), Ministry of Education, Chengdu, ChinaDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, ChinaKey Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Sichuan University), Ministry of Education, Chengdu, ChinaDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, ChinaKey Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Sichuan University), Ministry of Education, Chengdu, ChinaBackgroundRegular participation in physical activity (PA) reduces all-cause mortality (ACM) in the general population. However, the effects of PA on depressed patients and potential gender-specific responses have not been fully elucidated. In this study, we aimed to investigate the role of PA on new-onset depression and ACM in Chinese adults aged 45 year and older, with particular emphasis on gender differences.MethodsThis was a longitudinal cohort study that took place over a nine-year period and featured 2,264 participants drawn from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). PA levels were categorized into quartiles using metabolic equivalents (MET; minutes/week), and depression was evaluated according to the 10-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CESD-10) scale. Specific relationships between PA, depression, and mortality were then investigated by applying multivariate logistic regression and Cox proportional hazards models.ResultsHighest quantile levels of PA were correlated with a 37% increase in the risk of new-onset depression in middle-aged (45–59 years) and older adults (>60 years). This association was predominantly influenced by a significant increase in the risk of mild depression (a score of 10–14 on the CESD-10) (odds ratio [OR]: 1.76; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.29–2.42, p < 0.001), with a more pronounced effect observed in women (OR: 1.83; 95% CI: 1.26–2.66, p = 0.002). A critical threshold for PA was identified at 4536 MET-minutes/week, beyond which the risk of depression increased significantly (p < 0.05). Conversely, higher levels of PA were linked to a 90% reduction in ACM (HR: 0.10; 95% CI: 0.02–0.44, p = 0.002), with the effect being more pronounced in men.ConclusionWhile PA reduces mortality, excessive activity may increase the risk of mild depression, particularly in women. These findings highlight the need for gender-specific PA guidelines that balance physical and mental health outcomes.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1510044/fullphysical activitydepressionall-cause mortalityCHARLSmenopause |
| spellingShingle | Dan Shan Dan Shan Meina Yang Meina Yang Kunyan Zhou Kunyan Zhou Gender-specific dual effects of physical activity on depression and mortality: a nine-year cohort study in Chinese adults aged 45 and above Frontiers in Public Health physical activity depression all-cause mortality CHARLS menopause |
| title | Gender-specific dual effects of physical activity on depression and mortality: a nine-year cohort study in Chinese adults aged 45 and above |
| title_full | Gender-specific dual effects of physical activity on depression and mortality: a nine-year cohort study in Chinese adults aged 45 and above |
| title_fullStr | Gender-specific dual effects of physical activity on depression and mortality: a nine-year cohort study in Chinese adults aged 45 and above |
| title_full_unstemmed | Gender-specific dual effects of physical activity on depression and mortality: a nine-year cohort study in Chinese adults aged 45 and above |
| title_short | Gender-specific dual effects of physical activity on depression and mortality: a nine-year cohort study in Chinese adults aged 45 and above |
| title_sort | gender specific dual effects of physical activity on depression and mortality a nine year cohort study in chinese adults aged 45 and above |
| topic | physical activity depression all-cause mortality CHARLS menopause |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1510044/full |
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