The effect of leisure coping on depressive symptoms among individuals with depression: examination of potential confounding effects of physical activity and extraversion

Abstract

Clinically significant depression has been consistently identified as a phenomenon directly linked to stress and stress coping. Leisure behavior as purposeful coping strategy (i.e., leisure coping) has been advanced as a potential approach to address depression; however, the leisure coping effect on depressive symptoms has not examined with two potential confounders: physical activity and extraversion. Physical activity's anti-depressant effect is widely known, and there is also a link between extraversion and lower depressive symptoms. The current study examined whether leisure coping has a significant effect on depressive symptoms among individuals with depression when physical activity and extraversion were taken into account. A cross-sectional online survey was conducted with respondents recruited from depression support group meetings, an online depression research portal, a state-wide research registry, and an outpatient psychiatric service provider. The analyses included a total of 152 adults (61.8% female) with self-reported depression who were age 18 to 75. A hierarchical regression analysis was performed to identify the strengths of association between leisure coping and depressive symptoms after accounting for covariates (demographics and perceived stress) and potential confounders (physical activity and extraversion). After a statistical control for physical activity and extraversion, leisure coping was significantly associated with lower depressive symptoms (β = -.300, p < .01). Physical activity was a significant predictor of depressive symptoms in the model with leisure coping, but it became non-significant in the model with extraversion. The results suggested that leisure coping contributes to lower depressive symptoms independent from physical activity and extraversion. Introverts may be disadvantaged to take advantage of physical activity, but leisure coping might be one strategy to influence depressive symptoms.Further investigations should seek to verify this relationship as well as explore leisure coping as an intervention for depression.

The role of personality traits and social support in relations of health-related behaviours and depressive symptoms

“…To understand the role of personality traits, McCrae and Costa [ 21 ] pointed out the relevance of observing behavioural correlates. In line with this assumption, empirical evidence by Nagata and colleagues [ 22 ] showed how the correlation of physical activity with depressive symptoms differs after controlling for certain personality characteristics.…”

Plasma Exo-miRNAs Correlated with AD-Related Factors of Chinese Individuals Involved in Aβ Accumulation and Cognition Decline

“…However, the AD related factors, education and leisure time mental activities, whose miRNAs expression profile or mechanism have not been reported so far. Numerous reports revealed that leisure or social activity is effective in coping with depression, which suggested the correlation among these AD-related lifestyle factors [ 78 ], although no significant relation between miRNAs and social activity (Table 3 ). hsa-miR-27a-5p (Fig.…”

Physical Activity as Treatment for Depression in Recreation Therapy: Transitioning from Research to Practice

“…Positive social interactions among participants enhance verbal persuasion and cohesion among the physical activity treatment group that facilitate vicarious experiences-both of which are major sources of self-efficacy (Bandura, 1994). In addition, it has been suggested that the explanation for the effects of physical exercise on depression are not the physical activities per se, but the positive social interactions with others during physical activity programs (Goodman et al, 2016;Nagata et al, 2019).…”