The mediating role of life satisfaction in the relationship between physical exercise and depressive symptoms among middle-aged and elderly individuals

ObjectiveTo investigate the mediating effect of life satisfaction between physical exercise behavior and depressive symptoms among middle-aged and elderly individuals, providing a reference for improving depressive conditions in this demographic group.MethodsData from 11,101 middle-aged and elderly...

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Main Authors: Ting Yang, Xinxin Li, Xinyu Wang, Jingjie Zhou, Wei Chen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-02-01
Series:Frontiers in Public Health
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1511509/full
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author Ting Yang
Xinxin Li
Xinyu Wang
Jingjie Zhou
Jingjie Zhou
Wei Chen
Wei Chen
author_facet Ting Yang
Xinxin Li
Xinyu Wang
Jingjie Zhou
Jingjie Zhou
Wei Chen
Wei Chen
author_sort Ting Yang
collection DOAJ
description ObjectiveTo investigate the mediating effect of life satisfaction between physical exercise behavior and depressive symptoms among middle-aged and elderly individuals, providing a reference for improving depressive conditions in this demographic group.MethodsData from 11,101 middle-aged and elderly individuals from the 2020 China Family Panel Studies (CFPS) were collected. STATA 17.0 was used for data cleaning, organization, and statistical analysis which includes univariate analysis, stepwise regression analysis, and mediation effect testing.ResultsAmong 11,101 individuals aged 45 years and above, 2,272 participated in physical exercise, accounting for 20.47%; 2,052 exhibited depressive symptoms, representing 18.48%. Physical exercise was positively correlated with life satisfaction and negatively correlated with depression. Depression scores also showed a negative correlation with life satisfaction. According to the results of the mediation effect study, life satisfaction accounted for 16.60% of the overall effect and had a mediating effect value of −0.099 on depression symptoms.ConclusionPhysical exercise and life satisfaction are factors influencing depressive symptoms, and life satisfaction acts as a partial mediator between physical exercise participation and depression among middle-aged and elderly adults.
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publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
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spelling doaj-art-64c9c4ed6d34412fb889a3acab62a5f82025-08-20T02:13:28ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Public Health2296-25652025-02-011310.3389/fpubh.2025.15115091511509The mediating role of life satisfaction in the relationship between physical exercise and depressive symptoms among middle-aged and elderly individualsTing Yang0Xinxin Li1Xinyu Wang2Jingjie Zhou3Jingjie Zhou4Wei Chen5Wei Chen6The Affiliated Xuzhou Rehabilitation Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, ChinaThe Affiliated Xuzhou Rehabilitation Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, ChinaThe Affiliated Xuzhou Rehabilitation Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, ChinaThe Affiliated Xuzhou Rehabilitation Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, ChinaThe Xuzhou Clinical College of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, ChinaThe Affiliated Xuzhou Rehabilitation Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, ChinaThe Xuzhou Clinical College of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, ChinaObjectiveTo investigate the mediating effect of life satisfaction between physical exercise behavior and depressive symptoms among middle-aged and elderly individuals, providing a reference for improving depressive conditions in this demographic group.MethodsData from 11,101 middle-aged and elderly individuals from the 2020 China Family Panel Studies (CFPS) were collected. STATA 17.0 was used for data cleaning, organization, and statistical analysis which includes univariate analysis, stepwise regression analysis, and mediation effect testing.ResultsAmong 11,101 individuals aged 45 years and above, 2,272 participated in physical exercise, accounting for 20.47%; 2,052 exhibited depressive symptoms, representing 18.48%. Physical exercise was positively correlated with life satisfaction and negatively correlated with depression. Depression scores also showed a negative correlation with life satisfaction. According to the results of the mediation effect study, life satisfaction accounted for 16.60% of the overall effect and had a mediating effect value of −0.099 on depression symptoms.ConclusionPhysical exercise and life satisfaction are factors influencing depressive symptoms, and life satisfaction acts as a partial mediator between physical exercise participation and depression among middle-aged and elderly adults.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1511509/fullphysical exerciselife satisfactiondepressionmediating effectChinese
spellingShingle Ting Yang
Xinxin Li
Xinyu Wang
Jingjie Zhou
Jingjie Zhou
Wei Chen
Wei Chen
The mediating role of life satisfaction in the relationship between physical exercise and depressive symptoms among middle-aged and elderly individuals
Frontiers in Public Health
physical exercise
life satisfaction
depression
mediating effect
Chinese
title The mediating role of life satisfaction in the relationship between physical exercise and depressive symptoms among middle-aged and elderly individuals
title_full The mediating role of life satisfaction in the relationship between physical exercise and depressive symptoms among middle-aged and elderly individuals
title_fullStr The mediating role of life satisfaction in the relationship between physical exercise and depressive symptoms among middle-aged and elderly individuals
title_full_unstemmed The mediating role of life satisfaction in the relationship between physical exercise and depressive symptoms among middle-aged and elderly individuals
title_short The mediating role of life satisfaction in the relationship between physical exercise and depressive symptoms among middle-aged and elderly individuals
title_sort mediating role of life satisfaction in the relationship between physical exercise and depressive symptoms among middle aged and elderly individuals
topic physical exercise
life satisfaction
depression
mediating effect
Chinese
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1511509/full
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