Live Poster Session: Zoom Link
Abstract: Depression is a very common experience for American adults, with one in five adults experiencing depression in their lifetime. Depression symptoms include–but are not limited to–persistent feelings of sadness, angry outbursts, lack of energy, and frequent thoughts of death. Many people’s symptoms are so severe that it causes noticeable problems in day-to-day life. Current treatment is prescription medication, but it has also been found that physical activity may improve both physical and mental health. This study aims to investigate the relationship between physical activity in adolescence and the onset of depression. A sample was drawn from the first wave of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (ADDHEALTH) which represents the civilian adolescent population of the United States. A second sample was drawn from the fifth wave of the ADDHEALTH study which consisted of the same sample but 22 years later. Chi-Square analysis showed adolescents who exercised frequently were significantly more likely to have diagnosed depression. X2=17.8, p<.0.05. Exercise as an adult (Wave 5), and present symptoms of depression as an adolescent were also found to be associated with depression when controlling for comorbidity
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