Change in device-measured physical activity assessed in childhood and adolescence in relation to depressive symptoms: a general population-based cohort study.
Publication Date
2020-04Journal Title
Journal of epidemiology and community health
ISSN
0143-005X
Publisher
BMJ
Volume
74
Issue
4
Pages
330-335
Language
eng
Type
Article
This Version
AM
Physical Medium
Print-Electronic
Metadata
Show full item recordCitation
Hamer, M., Patalay, P., Bell, S., & Batty, G. D. (2020). Change in device-measured physical activity assessed in childhood and adolescence in relation to depressive symptoms: a general population-based cohort study.. Journal of epidemiology and community health, 74 (4), 330-335. https://doi.org/10.1136/jech-2019-213399
Abstract
Aim: Evidence for a link between physical activity and mental health in young people is hampered by weak evidence. By utilising repeat assessments of device-measured physical activity, we examined the association of within-individual variation in free-living activity over 7 years with depressive symptoms.
Methods: This was a prospective cohort study of a nationally representative sample of children born in the UK (n=4,898). Physical activity was quantified using accelerometry at age 7 and age 14. Main outcome was depressive symptoms, based on the Short Moods and Feelings Questionnaire, assessed at age 14.
Results: After adjustment for socio-economic status, body mass index, and psychological problems at baseline, higher levels of light intensity activity at age 7 in girls was associated with a lower likelihood of having depressive symptoms at follow up (odds ratio, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.61, 1.00), although no associations were observed for moderate to vigorous activity or sedentary behaviour. Girls who transitioned from low baseline activity to higher levels at follow up experienced a lower risk of depressive symptoms (odds ratio, 0.60; 95% CI, 0.39 – 0.92) compared to the inactive reference category. Null associations were observed in boys. Participants who consistently met the currently recommendation of 60 min-d moderate-vigorous activity at both age 7 and 14 years of age experienced the lowest risk of depressive symptoms (odds ratio, 0.55;95% CI, 0.34, 0.88).
Conclusion: To prevent depressive symptoms in adolescence, policies to increase physical activity from mid-childhood may have utility.
Sponsorship
Funding: This research was conducted under the auspices of the Cross-Cohort Research Programme and was funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (grant number ES/M008584/1). GDB is supported by the UK Medical Research Council (MR/P023444/1) and the US National Institute on Aging (1R56AG052519-01; 1R01AG052519-01A1). The funders had no role in the study design; in the collection, analysis and interpretation of data; in writing of the report; or in the decision to submit the paper for publication.
Funder references
British Heart Foundation (RG/13/13/30194)
British Heart Foundation (RG/18/13/33946)
Identifiers
External DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/jech-2019-213399
This record's URL: https://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/handle/1810/299893
Rights
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