Citation

Brunes A, Augestad LB, Gudmundsdottir SL. Soc. Psychiatry Psychiatr. Epidemiol. 2013; 48(5): 745-756.

Affiliation

Faculty of Social Sciences and Technology Management, Department of Human Movement Science, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), 7491, Trondheim, Norway, audun.brunes@ntnu.no.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2013, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1007/s00127-012-0594-6

PMID

23052425

Abstract

PURPOSE: To analyze the association between physical activity (PA), symptoms of depression and anxiety, and personality traits. METHODS: Cross-sectional study from a Norwegian population-based survey conducted in the period 2006-2008. The sample consisted of a total of 38,743 subjects aged ≥19 years, 56.1 % women and 43.9 % men. Demographic variables, PA, depression and anxiety (The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale), and personality (Eysenck Personality Questionnaire) were assessed by self-reporting measurements. RESULTS: Individuals who reported moderate and high PA had significantly lower scores on depression and anxiety compared with less physically active individuals (p < 0.05). Significantly lower risk of HADS-defined depression and anxiety was associated with frequency, duration, and intensity of activity among women (p < 0.05), and significantly lower risk of HADS-defined depression was associated with frequency, duration, and intensity of activity among men (p < 0.05). There was a significant linear trend between extroversion and levels of PA (p < 0.01) and between neuroticism and PA (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Subjects reporting regular leisure-time PA were less likely to report symptoms of HADS-defined depression and anxiety. Personality may be an underlying factor in explaining this association.

Language: en