Physical activity, approach-avoidance temperament and depressive symptoms

Abstract

The goal was to assess the connections between vigorous physical activity (VPA), approach-avoidance temperament and depressive symptoms. Two studies were conducted. Study 1, correlational, to assess the mediating role of both dimensions of temperament, approach-avoidance contrast, between physical activity and depressive symptoms. Participants, 335 college students, completed the International Physical Activity Questionnaire, the Depressive Symptoms Scale (DSS) and the Approach-Avoidance Temperament Questionnaire (Ap-AvTQ). Results showed that approach-avoidance contrast could be considered a potential mediator between VPA and depressive symptoms. The global model was significant, F(2, 351)=3.22, p<.001, R2=14.91%, R2 adjusted=14.42%, and the bootstrapped upper and lower limits did not contain zero with the lower limit at -.05 and the upper at -14, suggesting a connection between VPA and depressive symptoms mediated by the approach-avoidance contrast temperament. Study 2, longitudinal, to test if a physical activity program could produce changes in approach-avoidance contrast temperament, manipulating the depressive symptoms. A VPA program was conducted with 149 college students. Participants completed the DSS and the Ap-AvTQ. The true intraindividual change modeling technique, a more direct approach to modeling interindividual differences in intraindividual change without using a control group, showed that participants’ depressive symptoms were predicted through the mediation of the approach-avoidance contrast temperament (γ=-.36, p<.001). VPA was positively linked to the approach-avoidance contrast temperament that was negatively connected to depressive symptoms, and negatively linked to the approach-avoidance contrast temperament that was positively connected to depressive symptoms. It seems possible to influence depressive symptoms through approach-avoidance contrast temperament using VPA.

Impact of High-Intensity Interval Training on Body Composition and Depressive Symptoms in Adults under Home Confinement

“…Thus, participants had to answer six questions related to social activities that may affect their health "over the past 4 weeks" using a scale ranging from 1 to 4 ("often", "sometimes", "rarely" or "never"). Previous studies have reported acceptable reliability of this scale [21] as well as that obtained in the present study (Cronbach's alpha = 0.84 for the entire scale). Responses to the scale items were added up in order to obtain an overall depressive-symptom score ranging from 6 to 24 points.…”

“…Likewise, participants' depressive symptoms were recorded every 4 weeks (S1: 15 March; S4: 12 April; S8: 10 May) using the Spanish version [21] of Kandel and Davies' six-item self-report scale [22] adjusted to the confinement situation. Thus, participants had to answer six questions related to social activities that may affect their health "over the past 4 weeks" using a scale ranging from 1 to 4 ("often", "sometimes", "rarely" or "never").…”

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

“…Another, relatively larger, body of research has investigated differential associations of physical activity with depressive symptoms [ 15 , 16 , 37 ]. However, the understanding of the underlying factors determining these differential effects remains insufficient [ 38 ].…”

Connections among physical activity, motivation, and depressive symptoms in adolescent girls

“…Therefore, individuals’ degree of self-determined motivation has been associated to depressive symptoms. Previous studies have shown the positive impact of autonomy support and self-regulation (self-determined motivation) on a variety of mental and physical health problems, including depression (Patrick and Williams, 2012) and depressive symptoms (Cecchini et al, 2017, 2019; Cecchini-Estrada et al, 2015). Similarly, participants’ perceived autonomy support and autonomous motivation while enrolled in a treatment programme were powerful predictors of treatment outcome (Kaap-Deeder et al, 2014).…”