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For immediate release
May 31, 2007

DEPRESSION, PHYSICAL INACTIVITY LINKED
Emotional health tends to impact activity levels in women

NEW ORLEANS – Women with positive emotional health tend to be more active, according to a study presented today at the 54th Annual Meeting of the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM).  A study of 276 middle-aged women found women with a positive sense of well-being engaged in about 85 more minutes of physical activity per week than women who were clinically depressed., adding to research that helps illustrate the link between physical activity and mental health

Participants wore accelerometers — wristwatch-sized devices used to measure physical activity —  for seven consecutive days. In addition, each subject completed the General Well-Being Schedule (GWB), which evaluates psychological distress and depression. Based on the GWB scores, the women were divided into three groups: relatively depressed, average, and positive well-being.

Average physical activity levels differed significantly among the three groups. Relatively depressed participants averaged 2.57 million accelerometer counts for the week, compared with 2.72 million for the average group and 2.86 million for those with positive well-being. Accelerometers record a count each time an individual moves.

Time spent in physical activity also underscores the correlation with emotional health. Women in the positive well-being group logged about 70 more minutes per week compared with the relatively depressed group, and 85 minutes more than those who were diagnosed as clinically depressed.

ACSM guidelines call for at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity on most, if not all, days of the week. It is widely believed physical activity can be protective against depression, and several studies support the association of increased physical activity with decreased symptoms of depression.

“While previous research has established the link between physical activity and emotional health, this was a rather large-scale study that provides clear data to support the conclusions,” said Katie Thomas, the lead researcher in the study.  She recommended further research to identify a quantifiable difference in measured physical activity between depressed women and their counterparts.

The American College of Sports Medicine is the largest sports medicine and exercise science organization in the world.  More than 20,000 international, national, and regional members are dedicated to advancing and integrating scientific research to provide educational and practical applications of exercise science and sports medicine.

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The conclusions outlined in this news release are those of the researchers only, and should not be construed as an official statement of the American College of Sports Medicine.