Published online Oct 19, 2023. doi: 10.5498/wjp.v13.i10.784
Peer-review started: June 5, 2023
First decision: July 4, 2023
Revised: July 15, 2023
Accepted: August 7, 2023
Article in press: August 7, 2023
Published online: October 19, 2023
Processing time: 128 Days and 17.8 Hours
Depression is a common mental disorder among college students. Key symptoms include persistent depressed mood, sad emotional experiences, lack of pleasure, listlessness, and impaired cognitive function, accompanied by self-harm and suicidal tendencies.
Reduce the prevalence of depressive symptoms in college students.
Elucidating pathways and effects of behavioral activation systems between physical activity and depressive symptoms in college students with depressive symptoms.
One-way analysis of variance and Pearson correlation, linear regression, and structural equation modeling were used to explore the correlation and pathway of interactions between variables.
The mediating effect of reward responses between physical activity and depressive symptoms was significant [B = -0.025, 95% confidence interval (95%CI): -0.051 to -0.008, P = 0.001]. The direct and total effects of physical activity on depressive symptoms were significant ((B = -0.150, 95%CI: -0.233 to -0.073, P < 0.001; B = -0.175, 95%CI: -0.260 to -0.099, P < 0.001, respectively).
Colleges and universities should encourage college students with depression to increase physical activity and improve behavioral activation systems. Particular attention should be paid to the ability to reward responses, which may reduce the prevalence of depressive symptoms.
It is recommended to use objective measurement tools in future measurements; longitudinal studies are needed to further define the course of action.