A brief report relating physical activity and depressive symptoms in women during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between self-reported physical activity and depressive symptoms in US women during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods A quantitative self-report online survey was administered to adult women ( n > 800) in the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Physical activity was measured for frequency, intensity, and duration by using Likert scales, along with descriptive measures of types of activity. The Beck Depression Inventory II was applied to assess depressive symptoms. Results The Beck Depression Inventory II score of participants not engaging in physical activity ( b = 13.344, SE = 0.593, p < 0.001) was greater than that of participants engaging in physical activity. No difference in depression score was found in relation to physical activity intensity or duration, which suggests that these have no meaningful effect on depression symptoms. Conclusions All types of self-rated physical activity (low-cost, low-risk activity) taken together are associated with lower depression in women during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Keywords

• physical activity
• depression
• beck depression inventory
• women’s mental health
• covid-19