Screen time, physical activity and depression risk in minority women

Emerging research suggests that sedentary behavior, sometimes measured as screen time, may be an important correlate of depression. Physical activity, while not the direct opposite of sedentary behavior, has also been associated with depression (albeit inversely). Although low-income and minority populations may experience greater levels of depression, little research has focused on the relationships between screen time or physical activity and depression in low-income, minority populations in the United States. This study used logistic regression to assess relationships among depression, daily screen time, and weekly physical activity and the interaction between screen time and physical activity in a cross-sectional sample of 535 overweight or obese minority women in East Harlem, New York. Sixteen percent of participants were at risk for depression, which was significantly higher than national averages. Results suggested that engaging in high levels of daily screen time was associated with increased depression risk, even after controlling for physical activity and demographic variables. Neither physical activity nor the interaction between screen time and physical activity were associated with depression risk. Obesity was significantly associated with depression risk in all models, even when accounting for sedentary behavior and physical activity. Daily screen time may be an important risk factor for depression in minority women in the United States. The lack of association between physical activity and depression did not support past research and may have been due to the physical activity measure or the fact that physical activity may not be an important risk factor for depression in minority women.