The Relationship Between Depressive Symptoms and Physical Activity in Rehabilitation Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Aim

This study investigated the impact of depressive symptoms on the physical activity of older patients in a rehabilitation ward.

Methods

In this cross-sectional study, patients admitted to a rehabilitation ward were assessed. Physical activity was measured using a triaxial accelerometer, while depressive symptoms, physical function, and cognitive function were evaluated with the Geriatric Depression Scale, Short Physical Performance Battery, and Mini Mental State Examination, respectively. Pearson’s correlation coefficient and multiple regression analysis were employed.

Results

Among 53 participants, significant negative correlations were found between physical activity and depressive symptoms (r = −0.44, p < 0.01), cognitive function (r = -0.41, p < 0.01), and physical function (r = −0.37, p < 0.01). Depressive symptoms were significantly associated with reduced physical activity (β = −0.34, p < 0.05).

Conclusion

Depressive symptoms negatively impacted physical activity in older patients in rehabilitation units.

Keywords:

• Older adults
• physical activity
• depressive symptoms

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the subjects who participated in this study.

Disclosure statement

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

Data availability statement

The de-identified individual participant datasets used in this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.