The Effectiveness of a Mobile Phone–Based Physical Activity Program for Treating Depression, Stress, Psychological Well-Being, and Quality of Life Among Adults: Quantitative Study

Abstract

Background Depression is a substantial global health problem, affecting >300 million people and resulting in 12.7% of all deaths. Depression causes various physical and cognitive problems, leading to a 5-year to 10-year decrease in life expectancy compared with the general population. Physical activity is known to be an effective, evidence-based treatment for depression. However, people generally have difficulties with participating in physical activity owing to limitations in time and accessibility. Objective To address this issue, this study aimed to contribute to the development of alternative and innovative intervention methods for depression and stress management in adults. More specifically, we attempted to investigate the effectiveness of a mobile phone–based physical activity program on depression, perceived stress, psychological well-being, and quality of life among adults in South Korea. Methods Participants were recruited and randomly assigned to the mobile phone intervention or waitlist group. Self-report questionnaires were used to assess variables before and after treatment. The treatment group used the program around 3 times per week at home for 4 weeks, with each session lasting about 30 minutes. To evaluate the program’s impact, a 2 (condition) × 2 (time) repeated-measures ANOVA was conducted, considering pretreatment and posttreatment measures along with group as independent variables. For a more detailed analysis, paired-samples 2-tailed t tests were used to compare pretreatment and posttreatment measurements within each group. Independent-samples 2-tailed t tests were conducted to assess intergroup differences in pretreatment measurements. Results The study included a total of 68 adults aged between 18 and 65 years, who were recruited both through web-based and offline methods. Of these 68 individuals, 41 (60%) were randomly assigned to the treatment group and 27 (40%) to the waitlist group. The attrition rate was 10.2% after 4 weeks. The findings indicated that there is a significant main effect of time (F1,60=15.63; P=.003; ηp2=0.21) in participants’ depression scores, indicating that there were changes in depression level across time. No significant changes were observed in perceived stress (P=.25), psychological well-being (P=.35), or quality of life (P=.07). Furthermore, depression scores significantly decreased in the treatment group (from 7.08 to 4.64; P=.03; Cohen d=0.50) but not in the waitlist group (from 6.72 to 5.08; P=.20; Cohen d=0.36). Perceived stress score of the treatment group also significantly decreased (from 2.95 to 2.72; P=.04; Cohen d=0.46) but not in the waitlist group (from 2.82 to 2.74; P=.55; Cohen d=0.15). Conclusions This study provided experimental evidence that mobile phone–based physical activity program affects depression significantly. By exploring the potential of mobile phone–based physical activity programs as a treatment option, this study sought to improve accessibility and encourage participation in physical activity, ultimately promoting better mental health outcomes for individuals with depression and stress.

Effectiveness of Mobile-Based Progressive and Fixed Physical Activity on Depression, Stress, Anxiety, and Quality of Life Outcomes Among Adults in South Korea: Randomized Controlled Trial

“…As a result, those who participate in both the progressive and fixed PA groups may observe a more significant decrease in depression and perceived stress compared with those who do not engage in PA. Previous literature has found the significant impact of mobile-based PA programs on mental health [ 36 - 41 ], and this aligns with the findings of this study. Theoretical implications of these findings in academia endorse the use of both regular fixed PA and progressive PA through mobile apps as potential therapies for mitigating depression and stress.…”

“…In this study, the appropriate sample size was determined using the G* power calculator (version 3.1.9.4; Heinrich-Heine-Universität) [ 45 ]. The aim was to achieve a significance level of .05 and a statistical power of 95%, with an effect size of 0.36, based on the data from a prior study that investigated the impact of mobile-based PA interventions on depression [ 41 ]. The calculations indicated that 30 participants were required to reach the desired power of 0.95.…”

“…This process offers them prompt feedback and encouragement to adhere to their fitness objectives. Finally, the use of mobile PA apps provides a cost-efficient method for reducing expenses connected to facility use and health concerns [ 35 ] while it significantly improves physical health variables, such as managing weight; self-confidence; and mental health aspects, such as decreasing depression, stress, and increasing enjoyment of life [ 36 - 41 ]. For example, Murray et al [ 39 ] found that college students who engaged in approximately 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous PA per week over an 8-week period showed significant decreases in depression and anxiety.…”