Physical activity and risk of depression in adolescents: A systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective observational studies

Jiaojiao Hou; Qin Deng; Linna Sha; Jiangbo Zhu; Rong Xiang; Xunying Zhao; Changfeng Xiao; Chenjiarui Qin; Yang Qu; Tao Han; Xin Song; Bin Yang; Ting Yu; Jinyu Zhou; Sirui Zheng; Mengyu Fan; Peijing Yan; Xia Jiang

doi:10.1016/j.jad.2024.11.065

Physical activity and risk of depression in adolescents: A systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective observational studies

J Affect Disord. 2024 Nov 22:S0165-0327(24)01952-9. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2024.11.065. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Jiaojiao Hou¹, Qin Deng², Linna Sha², Jiangbo Zhu², Rong Xiang², Xunying Zhao¹, Changfeng Xiao¹, Chenjiarui Qin², Yang Qu¹, Tao Han², Xin Song¹, Bin Yang², Ting Yu¹, Jinyu Zhou², Sirui Zheng², Mengyu Fan¹, Peijing Yan³, Xia Jiang⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Institute of Systems Epidemiology, and West China-PUMC C. C. Chen Institute of Health, West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China.
² Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
³ Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Institute of Systems Epidemiology, and West China-PUMC C. C. Chen Institute of Health, West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China. Electronic address: calmyan@sina.com.
⁴ Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Institute of Systems Epidemiology, and West China-PUMC C. C. Chen Institute of Health, West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China; Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China; Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm 17177, Sweden. Electronic address: xiajiang@scu.edu.cn.

PMID: 39581382
DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2024.11.065

Abstract

Background: While the benefits of physical activity (PA) on depression in adults have been well-established, its impact on depression in adolescents remains understudied. This study aimed to examine the relationship between PA and depression in adolescents, aggregating published prospective observational studies.

Methods: We searched MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane, and PsycINFO, for prospective observational studies that examined the relationship between PA and depression in adolescents from the inception of these databases to November 17, 2022, without any language restrictions. Two independent reviewers performed data extraction and assessed the risk of bias. We utilized a random-effects model to calculate the pooled odds ratios (ORs) and 95 % confidence intervals (95%CIs). Subgroup analyses were conducted to explore potential sources of heterogeneity.

Results: This study included 11 original articles, involving 59,786 adolescents (46.4 % male). Primary analysis revealed that adolescents who engaged in higher levels of PA showed a 3 % significantly decreased risk of developing depression compared to those with lower levels (OR = 0.97, 95%CI = 0.94-0.99, P = 0.01; I² = 41.7 %). Sensitivity analyses confirmed the robustness of these findings. Subgroup analyses demonstrated heterogeneity to be primarily attributed to data source, geographic region, and follow-up period (P_interaction< 0.01, 0.01 and 0.01, respectively), while no significant sex-specific association was found (P_interaction = 0.30).

Conclusions: Our systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective observational studies indicates that higher levels of PA are associated with a reduced risk of depression in adolescents. This highlights the need for policies to promote increased PA levels among adolescents for the prevention of depression.

Keywords: Adolescents; Depression; Meta-analysis; Physical activity; Prospective.

Publication types

Review