Influence of Physical Activity on Depression and Anxiety of Former Elite Athletes

H. Bäckmand; J. Kaprio; U. Kujala; S. Sarna

doi:10.1055/s-2003-43271

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Int J Sports Med 2003; 24(8): 609-619
DOI: 10.1055/s-2003-43271

Psychology

Influence of Physical Activity on Depression and Anxiety of Former Elite Athletes

H. Bäckmand¹ , J. Kaprio^1, ² , U. Kujala³ , S. Sarna¹

¹Department of Public Health, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
²Department of Public Health and General Practice, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
³Unit for Sports and Exercise Medicine, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland

Further Information

Publication History

Accepted after revision: February 25, 2003

Publication Date:
04 November 2003 (online)

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Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of physical activity and other factors on the mood of former elite male athletes and controls of middle and old age. The subjects were 664 former athletes and 500 controls who answered questionnaires in 1985 and 1995. The dependent variables depressive and anxiety symptoms were assessed by the shortened anxiety and depression scales of the BSI-53. Logistic regression was used for longitudinal as well as cross-sectional analyses to estimate odds ratios for symptoms of depression and anxiety in relation to leisure physical activity adjusted for age in 1995, sports group, personality characteristics, alcohol use, smoking, marital status, life events and socio-economic status. In the longitudinal analysis, low levels of physical activity as well as neuroticism, dissatisfaction, marital status, life events and social class in 1985 increased the risk of depression in 1995. Also physical activity has a protective effect against depressiveness; an increase of one MET-unit (hour/day) statistically significantly decreased the risk of depressiveness by 8 %. In the longitudinal analysis, physical activity had no significant association with anxiety. Cross-sectional analysis for depressive symptoms in 1995, but not for anxiety found associations with sports group and physical activity as well as alcohol use and marital status. Very high physical activity has a significant protective effect against depression.

Key words

Anxiety - athlete - cohort study - depression - mood - physical activity

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Prof. S. Sarna, Ph. D.

Department of Public Health

P.O. Box 41 (Mannerheimintie 172) · FIN-00014 University of Helsinki · Finland ·

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