Physical Activity as a Mediator in the Relationship Between Oral health status and Depression Prevalence in Older Adults

PURPOSE This study aimed to investigate the mediating role of physical activity in the association between oral health and depression among Korean individuals aged ≥65 years. METHODS Data were obtained from the 2023 Korea Community Health Survey, comprising 68,806 participants aged ≥65 years. Oral h...

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Main Authors: Min-Jun Kim, Taewan Kim, Yoonhwan Kim, Donghyun Kim
Format: Article
Language:Korean
Published: The Korean Society of Exercise Physiology 2025-05-01
Series:운동과학
Subjects:
Online Access:http://ksep-es.org/upload/pdf/ksep-2025-00178.pdf
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author Min-Jun Kim
Taewan Kim
Yoonhwan Kim
Donghyun Kim
author_facet Min-Jun Kim
Taewan Kim
Yoonhwan Kim
Donghyun Kim
author_sort Min-Jun Kim
collection DOAJ
description PURPOSE This study aimed to investigate the mediating role of physical activity in the association between oral health and depression among Korean individuals aged ≥65 years. METHODS Data were obtained from the 2023 Korea Community Health Survey, comprising 68,806 participants aged ≥65 years. Oral health was assessed using two self-reported indicators: perceived oral health status and chewing discomfort. According to the revised edition of the Physical Activity Guidelines for Koreans, physical activity was categorized into three levels (inactive, insufficient, and sufficient). Depression was defined as a score of 10 or higher on the Patient Health Questionnaire-9. The mediating effect of physical activity on the relationship between oral health and depression was analyzed using the PROCESS macro (Model 4). RESULTS Poorer oral health was significantly associated with a higher level of depression (path a, β=-0.019, p<.001), while higher levels of physical activity were inversely associated with depression (path b, β=-0.083, p<.001). Furthermore, physical activity partially mediates the relationship between oral health and depression (indirect effect, β=0.002, 95% CI=0.001 to 0.002), accounting for approximately 0.6% of the total effect. CONCLUSIONS These findings indicate that engaging in regular physical activity may partially reduce the risk of depression resulting from deteriorating oral health, suggesting its potential as a complementary strategy for the prevention and management of depression associated with declining oral health.
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spelling doaj-art-e14ebbf5984a44c8b0f03aa803da45452025-08-20T03:44:58ZkorThe Korean Society of Exercise Physiology운동과학1226-17262384-05442025-05-0134218819810.15857/ksep.2025.001781143Physical Activity as a Mediator in the Relationship Between Oral health status and Depression Prevalence in Older AdultsMin-Jun Kim0Taewan Kim1Yoonhwan Kim2Donghyun Kim3Research Institute of Future Convergence, Changwon National University, Changwon, KoreaCollege of Sport Science, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, KoreaCollege of Sport Science, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, KoreaDepartment of Sports and Health Science, Hanbat National University, Daejeon, KoreaPURPOSE This study aimed to investigate the mediating role of physical activity in the association between oral health and depression among Korean individuals aged ≥65 years. METHODS Data were obtained from the 2023 Korea Community Health Survey, comprising 68,806 participants aged ≥65 years. Oral health was assessed using two self-reported indicators: perceived oral health status and chewing discomfort. According to the revised edition of the Physical Activity Guidelines for Koreans, physical activity was categorized into three levels (inactive, insufficient, and sufficient). Depression was defined as a score of 10 or higher on the Patient Health Questionnaire-9. The mediating effect of physical activity on the relationship between oral health and depression was analyzed using the PROCESS macro (Model 4). RESULTS Poorer oral health was significantly associated with a higher level of depression (path a, β=-0.019, p<.001), while higher levels of physical activity were inversely associated with depression (path b, β=-0.083, p<.001). Furthermore, physical activity partially mediates the relationship between oral health and depression (indirect effect, β=0.002, 95% CI=0.001 to 0.002), accounting for approximately 0.6% of the total effect. CONCLUSIONS These findings indicate that engaging in regular physical activity may partially reduce the risk of depression resulting from deteriorating oral health, suggesting its potential as a complementary strategy for the prevention and management of depression associated with declining oral health.http://ksep-es.org/upload/pdf/ksep-2025-00178.pdforal healthdepressionphysical activityoldermediating effect
spellingShingle Min-Jun Kim
Taewan Kim
Yoonhwan Kim
Donghyun Kim
Physical Activity as a Mediator in the Relationship Between Oral health status and Depression Prevalence in Older Adults
운동과학
oral health
depression
physical activity
older
mediating effect
title Physical Activity as a Mediator in the Relationship Between Oral health status and Depression Prevalence in Older Adults
title_full Physical Activity as a Mediator in the Relationship Between Oral health status and Depression Prevalence in Older Adults
title_fullStr Physical Activity as a Mediator in the Relationship Between Oral health status and Depression Prevalence in Older Adults
title_full_unstemmed Physical Activity as a Mediator in the Relationship Between Oral health status and Depression Prevalence in Older Adults
title_short Physical Activity as a Mediator in the Relationship Between Oral health status and Depression Prevalence in Older Adults
title_sort physical activity as a mediator in the relationship between oral health status and depression prevalence in older adults
topic oral health
depression
physical activity
older
mediating effect
url http://ksep-es.org/upload/pdf/ksep-2025-00178.pdf
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