Different levels of physical activity and depression symptoms among older adults from 18 countries: A population-based study from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE)

Abstract

Objective: Analyse the relationship between different levels of physical activity (PA) and depression symptoms in a representative sample of European older adults. Methods: Data on PA, depression symptoms and sociodemographic variables from 64688 (28015 men) older adults participating in SHARE wave 6 was collected through a face-to-face interview. The EURO-D 12-item scale was administered for depression symptoms. Participants reported the frequency they engaged in moderate-intensity PA (MPA) and vigorous-intensity PA (VPA). Results: Men and women engaging in MPA and VPA once or more than once a week had less depression symptoms than those who engage less than once a week. MPA and VPA once or more than once a week were inversely associated with the depression symptoms score. Furthermore, engaging in MPA and VPA decreased the odds of depression (cut-off point of ≥4 depression symptoms) compared to engaging in PA less than once a week. Conclusions: Policies for promoting mental health should include PA for the prevention or treatment of depression symptoms. PA presents physical and psychological benefits and can be used as an overall health-promoting strategy, facing numerous problems at a time.

Keywords:

• Quantitative study
• ageing
• exercise

Acknowledgments

This paper uses data from SHARE Wave 6 (DOI: 10.6103/SHARE.w6.710), see Börsch-Supan et al. (2013) for methodological details. (1) The SHARE data collection has been funded by the European Commission through FP5 (QLK6-CT-2001-00360), FP6 (SHARE-I3: RII-CT-2006-062193, COMPARE: CIT5-CT-2005-028857, SHARELIFE: CIT4-CT-2006-028812), FP7 (SHARE-PREP: GA N°211909, SHARE-LEAP: GA N°227822, SHARE M4: GA N°261982) and Horizon 2020 (SHARE-DEV3: GA N°676536, SERISS: GA N°654221) and by DG Employment, Social Affairs & Inclusion. Additional funding from the German Ministry of Education and Research, the Max Planck Society for the Advancement of Science, the U.S. National Institute on Aging (U01_AG09740-13S2, P01_AG005842, P01_AG08291, P30_AG12815, R21_AG025169, Y1-AG-4553-01, IAG_BSR06-11, OGHA_04-064, HHSN271201300071C) and from various national funding sources is gratefully acknowledged (see www.share-project.org).

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).