The association between prior physical fitness and depression in young adults during the COVID-19 pandemic—a cross-sectional, retrospective study

Abstract

Background The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a spike in deleterious mental health. This dual-center retrospective cross-sectional study assessed the prevalence of depression in young adults during this pandemic and explored its association with various physical fitness measures. Methods This study enrolled 12,889 (80% female) young adults (mean age 20 ± 1) who performed a National Student Physical Fitness battery from December 1st, 2019, to January 20th, 2020, and completed a questionnaire including Beck’s Depression Inventory in May 2020. Independent associations between prior physical fitness and depression during the pandemic were assessed using multivariable linear and binary logistic regressions accordingly, covariates including age, dwelling location, economic level, smoking, alcohol, living status, weight change, and exercise volume during the pandemic. Sex- and baseline stress-stratified analyses were performed. Results Of the study population 13.9% of men and 15.0% of women sampled qualified for a diagnosis of depression. After multivariable adjustment, anaerobic (mean change 95% CI −3.3 [−4.8 to 1.8]) aerobic (−1.5 [−2.64 to −0.5]), explosive (−1.64 [−2.7 to −0.6]) and muscular (−1.7 [−3.0 to −0.5]) fitness were independently and inversely associated with depression for the overall population. These remained consistent after sex- and baseline stress-stratification. In binary logistic regression, the combined participants with moderate, high or excellent fitness also showed a much lower risk compared to those least fit in anaerobic (odd ratio (OR) 95% CI 0.68 [0.55–0.82]), aerobic (0.80 [0.68–0.91]), explosive (0.72 [0.61–0.82]), and muscular (0.66 [0.57–0.75]) fitness. Conclusions These findings suggest that prior physical fitness may be inversely associated with depression in young adults during a pandemic.

COVID-19 depression and its risk factors in Asia Pacific – A systematic review and meta-analysis

“… Chen et al, 2021 ), ( Crowe et al, 2021 ), ( Fang et al, 2021 ), ( Hammond et al, 2021 ), ( He et al, 2021 ), ( Li et al, 2021 ), (Y. Liu et al, 2021 ), ( Parthasarathy et al, 2021 ), ( Perera et al, 2021 ) Maritial status 7 2.77 ( Fukase et al, 2021 ), ( Hazarika et al, 2021 ), ( Rashid et al, 2021 ), (Yu an Liu et al, 2021 ), ( Sakib et al, 2021 ), ( Veldhuis et al, 2021 ), ( Yan et al, 2021 ) Education level 7 2.77 ( Fang et al, 2021 ), ( Guo et al, 2021 ), ( Kar et al, 2021 ), ( Kim et al, 2021 ), ( Liu et al, 2020 ), (Song et al, 2021), ( Yan et al, 2021 ) Lack of outdoor activity/exercise 7 2.77 (Xu Chen et al, 2021 ), ( Chi et al, 2021 ), ( Dun et al, 2021 ), ( Faro et al, 2021 ), ( Suzuki et al, 2021 ), (R. K. Yadav et al, 2021 ), ( Yasmin et al, 2021 ) Disruption of education 7 2.77 (Xu Chen et al, 2021 ), ( Chi et al, 2021 ), ( Gotlib et al, 2021 ), (Y. Liu et al, 2021 ), ( Ma et al, 2021 ), ( Nishimura et al, 2021 ), (Yunus et al, 2021) Information overload & reliability 7 2.77 ( Crowe et al, 2021 ), ( ...…”

Six-month outcomes and effect of pulmonary rehabilitation among patients hospitalized with COVID-19: a retrospective cohort study

“…COVID-19 may, directly and indirectly, affect different parameters of well-being, including physical [ 1 ], psychological [ 47 ] and cognitive health [ 48 ]. Other multidisciplinary interventions that include research-based techniques to improve health parameters may be beneficial to patients.…”

Weight gain in Chinese youth during a 4-month COVID-19 lockdown: a retrospective observational study

“…Baseline body weight was measured in accordance with the Chinese National Student Physical Fitness Standard by staff members of the two respective universities for all university students, 7 using scales and after the removal of shoes/coats, while height was measured using a freestanding height measure. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated and classified according to the Asian cut-off points, classifying overweight as BMI of ≥24 and <28 kg/ m 2 , and obesity as BMI of ≥28 kg/m 2 .…”