Health behaviours among adolescents with depression

Emerging evidence suggests that health behaviour interventions may play a role in depression care, though most studies have focused on individual health behaviours and their isolated effects on adults. The objective of this study is to examine the collective and individual role of health behaviours among adolescents with major depressive disorder (MDD).

Youth with MDD (n = 253; 75.9 % female; mean [SD] age 15.09 [1.79] years) were recruited through an outpatient psychiatry program in a large urban hospital. Health behaviour data (diet, physical activity, sleep and recreational screentime) were collected. Structural Equation Models examined inter-relationships of depression and health behaviours using continuous measures.

Adherence to health behaviour recommendations was highest for sleep duration (36.4 %, n = 86), followed by fruit and vegetable intake (18.5 %, n = 39), physical activity (14.2 %, n = 36), and screen time (1.3 %, n = 3). Healthier behaviours collectively were associated with fewer depression symptoms (β = -0.509, p < .01). Individually, sleep duration and quality were negatively associated with depression symptoms (β = -0.445, p < .001; β = 0.580, p < .001). Increased sleep duration was associated with lower screen time (r = -0.268, p < .001) and greater fruit and vegetable intake (r = 0.239, p < .05) while greater screen time was associated with a lower fruit and vegetable intake (r = -0.211, p < .05).

Adolescents with MDD exhibit unhealthy behaviours related to sleep, diet, physical activity, and screen time. Sleep showed the strongest association with depressive symptoms, both directly and indirectly via diet and screen time. Research examining potential causal mechanisms underlying these effects is needed to elucidate novel, accessible depression treatment targets.