Scientists have linked regular exercise with a lower risk of depression

Regular physical exercise was found to be associated with a lower likelihood of anxiety and depressive disorders in students. At the same time, the frequency of classes had a more stable relationship with mental health than the intensity or duration of training. This was reported on August 19 in the journal PLOS One.

How the research was conducted

The researchers used data from the National Health and Well-being Survey of Norwegian students. At the first stage, they examined information about 53,362 students aged 18 to 35 years. Participants described how often they exercise, with what intensity, how long classes last, and how many hours per week they devote to physical activity.

A year later, 10,460 students underwent an independent diagnostic assessment using the standardized CIDI 5.0 questionnaire. The researchers checked for signs of a major depressive episode and generalized anxiety disorder. The calculations took into account age, socio-demographic indicators and the initial level of psychological distress.

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Classes were found to be the most common mode two to three times a week.: 38% of women and 33.8% of men trained this way. 17.5% of female students and 20.5% of students indicated daily physical activity. About 8-10% of the respondents reported that they rarely exercise or do not exercise at all.

Regularity turned out to be more important than workload

Compared to participants who exercised daily, women who rarely exercised or were completely inactive had a 15% higher adjusted relative risk of anxiety or depressive disorder. Among men, the difference reached 33%.

The most consistent relationship was found specifically for the frequency of classes. The intensity and duration of training had a less stable relationship with the results and differed depending on gender. In women, low exercise intensity was associated with an increased risk of disorders, while in men, short training duration was a more significant factor.

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Students who did not reach the study's threshold of 150 minutes of physical activity per week were also more likely to meet diagnostic criteria for anxiety or depression. After accounting for concomitant factors, their relative risk was 10% higher among women and 17% higher among men.

The likelihood of disorders decreased as the total training time increased, but the additional benefits gradually became less pronounced. Among women, the minimum rate was observed at about five to six hours of exercise per week. In men, the risk reduction continued with more activity, although after adjusting the results, the relationship became noticeably weaker.

Why can't sports be considered an independent treatment?

The study does not prove that it was exercise that prevented anxiety or depressive disorder. The work was observational in nature, and the participants reported information about physical activity independently. In addition, the diagnosis was carried out online, rather than during an in-person clinical interview.

Scientists also did not rule out an inverse relationship: people with pre-existing psychological problems may exercise less often. After taking into account the initial level of psychological distress, the relationship between activity and subsequent disorders decreased, although the main trends remained.

The authors concluded that accessible and regular classes can become part of a broader mental health support system for students. The emphasis should be placed not on grueling loads, but on a steady regime that a person is able to observe for a long time.