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Visualization of Intensity Levels to Reduce the Gap Between Self-Reported and Directly Measured Physical Activity
Published on: March 7, 2019
Physical activity and common mental disorder: results from the Caerphilly study
Nicola J Wiles1, Anne M Haase, John Gallacher
1Academic Unit of Psychiatry, Department of Community-Based Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom. nicola.wiles@bristol.ac.uk
American Journal of Epidemiology
|February 3, 2007
Summary
Engaging in heavy-intensity leisure-time physical activity was linked to a reduced risk of common mental disorders (CMD) like anxiety and depression in middle-aged men over a 5-year period. Occupational physical activity showed no significant association with CMD.
Area of Science:
- Epidemiology
- Public Health
- Mental Health Research
Background:
- Common mental disorders (CMD), including anxiety and depression, represent a significant public health concern.
- Physical activity is recognized as a potential protective factor for mental well-being.
- Understanding the differential impacts of leisure-time versus occupational physical activity on CMD is crucial for targeted interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) and occupational physical activity (OPA) and the incidence of common mental disorders (CMD) in middle-aged men.
- To determine if the intensity and type of physical activity influence the risk of developing anxiety and depression.
- To examine these associations over both 5-year and 10-year follow-up periods.
Main Methods:
- A cohort study of 1,158 middle-aged men in the United Kingdom, followed for 5 and 10 years.
- CMD assessed using the General Health Questionnaire.
- LTPA measured via self-report (Minnesota Leisure Time Physical Activity Questionnaire), categorizing intensity.
- OPA classified into four levels based on physical demands.
Main Results:
- Men engaging in any heavy-intensity LTPA showed reduced odds of CMD at 5-year follow-up (OR(adj) 0.54-0.61).
- Analyses accounting for missing data yielded weaker evidence for LTPA association (OR(adj) 0.73-0.79).
- No significant association was found between OPA and CMD after 5 years, nor between any physical activity and CMD at 10-year follow-up.
Conclusions:
- Heavy-intensity leisure-time physical activity may offer a modest protective effect against common mental disorders in middle-aged men over a 5-year period.
- Occupational physical activity does not appear to confer similar protective benefits against CMD in this cohort.
- Further research is needed to elucidate the long-term effects and mechanisms linking physical activity to mental health outcomes.
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