Domain-specific physical activity and risk of suicidal ideation in adults: a population-based study
Abstract Background It remains unclear whether all physical activity (PA) domains (occupational PA [OPA], transportation PA [TPA], and leisure-time PA [LTPA]) have equivalent beneficial effects. We aimed to investigate the associations of OPA, TPA, and LTPA with suicidal ideation in adults. Methods...
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BMC
2025-07-01
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-23815-9 |
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| author | Yun Zhang Tong Xu Zicheng Cheng Fangwang Fu Zhenxiang Zhan Lili Ma Meiqi Zhao |
| author_facet | Yun Zhang Tong Xu Zicheng Cheng Fangwang Fu Zhenxiang Zhan Lili Ma Meiqi Zhao |
| author_sort | Yun Zhang |
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| description | Abstract Background It remains unclear whether all physical activity (PA) domains (occupational PA [OPA], transportation PA [TPA], and leisure-time PA [LTPA]) have equivalent beneficial effects. We aimed to investigate the associations of OPA, TPA, and LTPA with suicidal ideation in adults. Methods We included and analyzed 25,497 participants (aged ≥ 18 years) from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2007–2018. The domain-specific PA was assessed by a self-report questionnaire and categorized based on the PA guidelines. Suicidal ideation was measured by item nine of the nine-item Patient Health Questionnaire. Results Participants achieving PA guidelines (≥ 150 min/week) had a 21% (odds ratio [OR] 0.79, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.63–0.98) and 32% (OR 0.68, 95% CI 0.53–0.89) reduced likelihood of suicidal ideation depending on total PA and LTPA, respectively, while OPA or TPA did not correlated with suicidal ideation. The mediation analysis revealed that 74.1% of this association was mediated by the severity of depressive symptoms. In subgroup analyses, LTPA was associated with suicidal ideation in participants who were aged ≥ 60 years, those with BMI < 30 kg/m2, sedentary time < 360 min/day, smoking, hypertension, depression and proportion of vigorous exercise ≥ 0.5. These connections indicate that LTPA could be especially beneficial for older individuals and those with specific lifestyle or health risks. LTPA at levels of 150–299 and ≥ 300 min/week was associated with 31% (OR 0.69, 95% CI 0.49–0.97) and 30% (OR 0.70, 95% CI 0.52–0.94) lower odds of suicidal ideation, respectively. Stratified by exercise intensity, vigorous-intensity LTPA, but not moderate-intensity LTPA, was negatively associated with the risk of suicidal ideation (OR 0.61, 95% CI 0.44–0.86). Conclusions When the amount achieving the PA guidelines, LTPA, but not OPA or TPA, was associated with a lower risk of suicidal ideation through the mediation of depressive symptoms. These findings indicate that engaging in LTPA, especially vigorous intensity LTPA, may provide substantial benefits for mental health. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-78e8da50936e4dfdbff6de6980e3e7aa |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
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| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-78e8da50936e4dfdbff6de6980e3e7aa2025-08-20T04:02:44ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582025-07-0125111110.1186/s12889-025-23815-9Domain-specific physical activity and risk of suicidal ideation in adults: a population-based studyYun Zhang0Tong Xu1Zicheng Cheng2Fangwang Fu3Zhenxiang Zhan4Lili Ma5Meiqi Zhao6Department of Neurology, Affiliated Jinhua Hospital, Zhejiang University School of MedicineDepartment of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children’s Hospital of Wenzhou Medical UniversityDepartment of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children’s Hospital of Wenzhou Medical UniversityDepartment of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children’s Hospital of Wenzhou Medical UniversityDepartment of Neurology, Affiliated Jinhua Hospital, Zhejiang University School of MedicineDepartment of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children’s Hospital of Wenzhou Medical UniversityDepartment of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children’s Hospital of Wenzhou Medical UniversityAbstract Background It remains unclear whether all physical activity (PA) domains (occupational PA [OPA], transportation PA [TPA], and leisure-time PA [LTPA]) have equivalent beneficial effects. We aimed to investigate the associations of OPA, TPA, and LTPA with suicidal ideation in adults. Methods We included and analyzed 25,497 participants (aged ≥ 18 years) from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2007–2018. The domain-specific PA was assessed by a self-report questionnaire and categorized based on the PA guidelines. Suicidal ideation was measured by item nine of the nine-item Patient Health Questionnaire. Results Participants achieving PA guidelines (≥ 150 min/week) had a 21% (odds ratio [OR] 0.79, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.63–0.98) and 32% (OR 0.68, 95% CI 0.53–0.89) reduced likelihood of suicidal ideation depending on total PA and LTPA, respectively, while OPA or TPA did not correlated with suicidal ideation. The mediation analysis revealed that 74.1% of this association was mediated by the severity of depressive symptoms. In subgroup analyses, LTPA was associated with suicidal ideation in participants who were aged ≥ 60 years, those with BMI < 30 kg/m2, sedentary time < 360 min/day, smoking, hypertension, depression and proportion of vigorous exercise ≥ 0.5. These connections indicate that LTPA could be especially beneficial for older individuals and those with specific lifestyle or health risks. LTPA at levels of 150–299 and ≥ 300 min/week was associated with 31% (OR 0.69, 95% CI 0.49–0.97) and 30% (OR 0.70, 95% CI 0.52–0.94) lower odds of suicidal ideation, respectively. Stratified by exercise intensity, vigorous-intensity LTPA, but not moderate-intensity LTPA, was negatively associated with the risk of suicidal ideation (OR 0.61, 95% CI 0.44–0.86). Conclusions When the amount achieving the PA guidelines, LTPA, but not OPA or TPA, was associated with a lower risk of suicidal ideation through the mediation of depressive symptoms. These findings indicate that engaging in LTPA, especially vigorous intensity LTPA, may provide substantial benefits for mental health.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-23815-9Domain-specific physical activityLeisure-time physical activityIntensityMental healthNational health and nutrition examination surveySuicidal ideation |
| spellingShingle | Yun Zhang Tong Xu Zicheng Cheng Fangwang Fu Zhenxiang Zhan Lili Ma Meiqi Zhao Domain-specific physical activity and risk of suicidal ideation in adults: a population-based study BMC Public Health Domain-specific physical activity Leisure-time physical activity Intensity Mental health National health and nutrition examination survey Suicidal ideation |
| title | Domain-specific physical activity and risk of suicidal ideation in adults: a population-based study |
| title_full | Domain-specific physical activity and risk of suicidal ideation in adults: a population-based study |
| title_fullStr | Domain-specific physical activity and risk of suicidal ideation in adults: a population-based study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Domain-specific physical activity and risk of suicidal ideation in adults: a population-based study |
| title_short | Domain-specific physical activity and risk of suicidal ideation in adults: a population-based study |
| title_sort | domain specific physical activity and risk of suicidal ideation in adults a population based study |
| topic | Domain-specific physical activity Leisure-time physical activity Intensity Mental health National health and nutrition examination survey Suicidal ideation |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-23815-9 |
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