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

Abstract

Depression is a common primary and secondary condition among recreational therapy clients, and is a threat to engagement and outcomes of recreational therapy. Recreational therapists are able to respond to depression through physical activity. A substantial amount of recent research has uniformly identified that there exist significant positive effects of physical activity on both clinical depression as well as depression among non-clinical populations. The research evidence in depression treatment and depression prevention supports physical activity as an intervention. This article reports types of exercise known to alleviate depression, the neuroanatomical structures affected by physical activity, and the effects of these structure changes on depressive symptoms. In addition, issues related to motivation regarding physical activity engagement as well as ways to respond to such issues using self-efficacy theory and self-determination theory are discussed. With an awareness of this current information, recreational therapists could integrate physical activity more intentionally into the APIED process to help their clients manage depression.

Physical activity can change the physiological and psychological circumstances during COVID-19 pandemic: A narrative review

“…Randomized controlled studies have con irmed that exercise is associated with an anti-depressant effect [48]. A meta-analysis reported, using the Hamilton rating scale for depression, regular exercise, and physical activity can treat individuals who were diagnosed with clinical depression or among those who do not respond to medication [50]. A study demonstrated that three weeks of a full-body workout, 45 min each session, by women with mild to moderate clinical depression could improve their mental health status [51].…”

“…A study demonstrated that three weeks of a full-body workout, 45 min each session, by women with mild to moderate clinical depression could improve their mental health status [51]. Moreover, the idea that exercise can only change individuals' condition with depression is unreliable because results showed that regular exercise and physical activity might reduce depression and anxiety in non-clinical populations [48,50].…”

“…The intensity and type of physical activity recommended by the ACSM for weight loss and WHO for health are also advised to improve life quality, manage stress, and reduce depression and anxiety [49]. There is evidence that even low amounts (frequency, duration, and intensity) of physical activity protect against depression [50].…”

The Socio-educational Theory of the “Invisible Hand”

“…Recreation can be analysed from different perspectives, considering it as work (Hurd et al, 2021), activity (Belhassen, 2021;Torkildsen, 2012), entertainment (Isik, 2018), pleasure and enjoyment (Surg, 2014), wellness (Nagata et al, 2020), learning and socialization (Stebbins, 2018(Stebbins, , 2017Newman et al, 2014;Kleiber et al, 2011;Sivan, 2008;Crompton, 2008;McGuire & Mcdonnell, 2008) and other. Research has found that for YPFO, involvement and participation in leisure activities provide an opportunity to re-engage with society (Glover, 2015;Sivan, 2008;Hutchinson & Kleiber, 2005), so it is important to understand this process as comprehensively as possible.…”

The Role of Extraversion in the Effectiveness of Leisure Coping on Depressive Symptoms

“…Based on the understanding of the social demand, recreational therapists should control the level of social stimuli so that introverts find comfort in the therapeutic program. Physical activity can be one option that has an anti-depressant effect and has relative freedom for recreational therapists to modify the social stimuli for individual clients (Nagata, McCormick, & Austin, 2020). Also, other evidence-based recreational therapy modalities such as animal assisted therapy and outdoor recreation might address the needs of the individual client (Lewis, 2015;Souter & Miller, 2007;Wilson & Christensen, 2012).…”