Relationship between types of physical activity and depression among 88,522 adults

Physical activity is associated with depression; however, the influence of physical activity type on this association remains poorly explored. We aimed to investigate the association between various types of leisure-time physical activity and depression among a large and representative sample.

Data from the 2019 Brazilian National Health Survey were used (n = 88,522 adults aged between 18 and 107 years, 53% female). Depression was measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9; participants' leisure-time physical activity types were self-reported. A four-step hierarchical regression was applied, and the analyses were adjusted for several confounders.

Active individuals had lower odds of depression (odds ratio [OR], 0.71; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.62-0.81); however, only outdoor walking/running (OR, 0.70; 95% CI, 0.60-0.82), cycling (OR, 0.50; 95% CI, 0.34-0.74), and team sports (OR, 0.52; 95% CI, 0.42-0.66) were associated with lower odds of depression than inactivity.

Physical activity type may be associated with mental health. The qualitative mechanisms of some physical activities seem to have greater capability than others to reduce depression. Causal inferences could not be made, however, our findings suggest that specific physical activities types have additional benefits that can be used in promoting mental health in clinical intervention and at a population level.