Longitudinal associations between specific exercise components and depressive symptoms in Chinese older women

Physical activity is associated with mental health outcomes in older adults. However, longitudinal evidence regarding specific exercise characteristics and depressive symptoms in older Chinese women remains limited. This study examined the associations between baseline exercise characteristics and subsequent depressive symptoms in community-dwelling older Chinese women.

We conducted a prospective cohort study of 1094 community-dwelling older Chinese women. Exercise frequency, duration, intensity, and persistence were assessed at baseline (2019). Depressive symptoms were measured using the Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) at baseline and follow-up.

Analysis of covariance was used to examine the associations between baseline exercise characteristics and follow-up SDS after adjustment for baseline SDS and demographic and health-related covariates. In the present study, higher exercise frequency at baseline was significantly associated with lower follow-up SDS scores after adjustment for baseline SDS and potential confounders (p value