Physical activity can help with depression, but only if you stick with it

In a new Chinese study, results found that while exercise can definitely help to alleviate feelings of depression, it only does so if you persist with that exercise. Head below the fold to learn more.

The link between physical and mental health is well established and documented – it’s not news (or new science) to anyone that exercising can boost your mood and help to alleviate feelings of depression, but according to a new Chinese study, this only works when you persist with the exercise.

As reported by Psychology Today, Fei Tian and colleagues, from Central China Normal University, found that there are indeed reasons to believe that physical activity helps in combatting health problems as well as depression. Research done prior has supported this possibility using observational methods, but they didn’t look closely at the relationship between the two.

The research team from Central China Normal University found that 20% of its participants developed “significant depressive symptoms“:

However, these rates varied by physical activity fluctuations with those who persisted in the same levels of activity over time less likely to develop symptoms (16 percent) compared to those who infrequently exercised (22 percent). These differences were maintained after the researchers controlled for demographic factors as well as health status and lifestyle, but, additionally, with these controls in place, the authors found higher rates of depressive symptoms developing in those who ceased physical activity altogether.

The findings in this study suggest that persistent participation in consistent physical activity might have an effect against depressive symptoms. Notably, how intensely a physical activity was done didn’t matter as much as persistence did. “…adults who engage in even low-intensity physical activity, such as walking or jogging, will have a notable antidepressent effect as long as they persist.”

Connect the Watts’ Take

It is common knowledge that exercise and physical activity release your body’s happy hormones, meaning you will feel at least some degree better after a workout than you did prior to a workout. It makes perfect sense that sustained exercise – or at least dedicating a small percentage of your day to physical activity – would help to further alleviate depressive moods and states.