Association of Efficacy of Resistance Exercise Training With Depressive Symptoms: Meta-analysis and Meta-regression Analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials
Open accessAbstract
Importance: The physical benefits of resistance exercise training (RET) are well documented, but less is known regarding the association of RET with mental health outcomes. To date, no quantitative synthesis of the antidepressant effects of RET has been conducted. Objectives: To estimate the association of efficacy of RET with depressive symptoms and determine the extent to which logical, theoretical, and/or prior empirical variables are associated with depressive symptoms and whether the association of efficacy of RET with depressive symptoms accounts for variability in the overall effect size. Data Sources: Articles published before August 2017, located using Google Scholar, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, PubMed, and Web of Science. Study Selection: Randomized clinical trials included randomization to RET (n = 947) or a nonactive control condition (n = 930). Data Extraction and Synthesis: Hedges d effect sizes were computed and random-effects models were used for all analyses. Meta-regression was conducted to quantify the potential moderating influence of participant and trial characteristics. Main Outcomes and Measures: Randomized clinical trials used validated measures of depressive symptoms assessed at baseline and midintervention and/or postintervention. Four primary moderators were selected a priori to provide focused research hypotheses about variation in effect size: total volume of prescribed RET, whether participants were healthy or physically or mentally ill, whether or not allocation and/or assessment were blinded, and whether or not the RET intervention resulted in a significant improvement in strength. Results: Fifty-four effects were derived from 33 randomized clinical trials involving 1877 participants. Resistance exercise training was associated with a significant reduction in depressive symptoms with a moderate-sized mean effect ∆ of 0.66 (95% CI, 0.48-0.83; z = 7.35; P < .001). Significant heterogeneity was indicated (total Q = 216.92, df = 53; P < .001; I2 = 76.0% [95% CI, 72.7%-79.0%]), and sampling error accounted for 32.9% of observed variance. The number needed to treat was 4. Total volume of prescribed RET, participant health status, and strength improvements were not significantly associated with the antidepressant effect of RET. However, smaller reductions in depressive symptoms were derived from randomized clinical trials with blinded allocation and/or assessment. Conclusions and Relevance: Resistance exercise training significantly reduced depressive symptoms among adults regardless of health status, total prescribed volume of RET, or significant improvements in strength. Better-quality randomized clinical trials blinding both allocation and assessment and comparing RET with other empirically supported treatments for depressive symptoms are needed.
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Claims the paper makes
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
There is some encouraging evidence of the role of resistance training alone in people with depressive symptoms.
“Whilst there is some encouraging evidence of the role of resistance training alone in people with depressive symptoms [106], there are very limited data available to date on exercise as a stand-alone intervention in people with MDD.”
From Exercise as Medicine for Mental and Substance Use Disorders: A Meta-review of the Benefits for Neuropsychiatric and Cognitive Outcomes (2020) · cites this paper as [106]
Strength training interventions can significantly improve mental health.
“Furthermore, strength training interventions can significantly improve mental health 91,92”
From A meta-review of "lifestyle psychiatry": the role of exercise, smoking, diet and sleep in the prevention and treatment of mental disorders (2020) · cites this paper as [91]
Both aerobic and PRT exercises have produced clinically meaningful improvements in depression in patients with clinical depression, with response rates ranging from 25 to 88%.
“Both aerobic and PRT exercises have produced clinically meaningful improvements in depression in such patients, with response rates ranging from 25 to 88% [449,450].”
From Global consensus on optimal exercise recommendations for enhancing healthy longevity in older adults (ICFSR) (2025) · cites this paper as [450]
Evidence of exercise as an isolated intervention for treating clinical depression across age groups is robust and consistent.
“Evidence of exercise as an isolated intervention for treating clinical depression across age groups is robust and consistent.”
From Global consensus on optimal exercise recommendations for enhancing healthy longevity in older adults (ICFSR) (2025) · cites this paper as [450]
Results from randomized trials of exercise, while generally favorable, have been more mixed than observational findings.
“Results from randomized trials of exercise, while generally favorable, have been more mixed than observational findings (7–10).”
From The Role of Exercise in Management of Mental Health Disorders: An Integrative Review (2021) · cites this paper as [10]
Resistance training appears to improve depressive symptoms (ES = 0.66, 95% CI 0.48-0.83), albeit with significant heterogeneity across trials.
“Although fewer studies have examined resistance training paradigms, existing data suggest that resistance training also appears to improve depressive symptoms (ES = 0.66, 95% CI 0.48–0.83), albeit with significant heterogeneity across trials (10).”
From The Role of Exercise in Management of Mental Health Disorders: An Integrative Review (2021) · cites this paper as [10]
Self-check
Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.
The self-check needs the paper’s full text.
Cites
Bias in meta-analysis detected by a simple, graphical test
Egger, M., Smith, G. D., Schneider, M., & Minder, C. (1997) · BMJ · doi:10.1136/bmj.315.7109.629 · Cited by 56,722 · see citing works
The Cochrane Collaboration's tool for assessing risk of bias in randomised trials
Higgins, J. P. T., Altman, D. G., Gotzsche, P. C., Juni, P., Moher, D., Oxman, A. D., Savovic, J., Schulz, K. F., Weeks, L., Sterne, J. A. C., et al. (2011) · BMJ · doi:10.1136/bmj.d5928 · Cited by 33,817 · see citing works
Liberati, A., Altman, D. G., Tetzlaff, J., Mulrow, C., Gøtzsche, P. C., Ioannidis, J. P. A., Clarke, M., Devereaux, P. J., Kleijnen, J., & Moher, D. (2009) · PLoS Medicine · doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.1000100 · Cited by 28,164 · see citing works
Dermyshi, E., Wang, Y., Yan, C., Hong, W., Qiu, G., Gong, X., & Zhang, T. (2017) · Neonatology · doi:10.1159/000454668 · Cited by 24,577 · see citing works
Operating characteristics of a rank correlation test for publication bias
Begg, C. B., & Mazumdar, M. (1994) · Biometrics · doi:10.2307/2533446 · Cited by 16,955 · see citing works
Development and validation of a geriatric depression screening scale: a preliminary report
Yesavage, J. A., Brink, T. L., Rose, T. L., Lum, O., Huang, V., Adey, M., & Leirer, V. O. (1982) · Journal of Psychiatric Research · doi:10.1016/0022-3956(82)90033-4 · Cited by 15,025 · see citing works
Duval, S., & Tweedie, R. (2000) · Biometrics · doi:10.1111/j.0006-341x.2000.00455.x · Cited by 14,099 · see citing works
Wasserman, S. S., Hedges, L. V., & Olkin, I. (1988) · Journal of Educational Statistics · doi:10.2307/1164953 · Cited by 10,347 · see citing works
(2000) · Cited by 9,198 · see citing works
Molecular Mechanisms of Depression: Perspectives on New Treatment Strategies
Lang, U. E., & Borgwardt, S. (2013) · Cellular Physiology and Biochemistry · doi:10.1159/000350094 · Cited by 8,501 · see citing works
Beck, A. T., Steer, R. A., & Brown, G. (2011) · PsycTESTS Dataset · doi:10.1037/t00742-000 · Cited by 7,535 · see citing works
Schulz (1995) · doi:10.1001/jama.1995.03520290060030 · Cited by 5,634 · see citing works
Meta-Analytic Procedures for Social Research
Rosenthal, R. (1991) · doi:10.4135/9781412984997 · Cited by 4,635 · see citing works
Meta-Analytic Procedures for Social Research.
Metcalfe, A., & Rosenthal, R. (1994) · Journal of the Royal Statistical Society Series D (The Statistician) · doi:10.2307/2348600 · Cited by 4,249 · see citing works
DiMatteo, M. R., Lepper, H. S., & Croghan, T. W. (2000) · Archives of Internal Medicine · doi:10.1001/archinte.160.14.2101 · Cited by 4,177 · see citing works
Rush, A. J., Trivedi, M. H., Ibrahim, H. M., Carmody, T. J., Arnow, B., Klein, D. N., Markowitz, J. C., Ninan, P. T., Kornstein, S., Manber, R., et al. (2003) · Biological Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/s0006-3223(02)01866-8 · Cited by 3,829 · see citing works
Cognitive Stimulation in Patients with Dementia: Randomized Controlled Trial
Mapelli, D., Rosa, E. D., Nocita, R., & Sava, D. (2013) · Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders Extra · doi:10.1159/000353457 · Cited by 3,468 · see citing works
Wood, L., Egger, M., Gluud, L. L., Schulz, K. F., Jüni, P., Altman, D. G., Gluud, C., Martin, R. M., Wood, A. J. G., & Sterne, J. A. C. (2008) · BMJ · doi:10.1136/bmj.39465.451748.ad · Cited by 2,538 · see citing works
Assessing depressive symptoms in five psychiatric populations: a validation study.
Weissman, M., Sholomskas, D., Pottenger, M., Prusoff, B., & Locke, B. Z. (1977) · American Journal of Epidemiology · doi:10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a112455 · Cited by 2,232 · see citing works
Antidepressant Drug Effects and Depression Severity: A Patient-Level Meta-analysis
Fournier, J. C., DeRubeis, R. J., Hollon, S. D., Dimidjian, S., Amsterdam, J. D., Shelton, R. C., & Fawcett, J. (2010) · JAMA · doi:10.1001/jama.2009.1943 · Cited by 2,009 · see citing works
The number needed to treat: a clinically useful measure of treatment effect
Cook, R. J., & Sackett, D. L. (1995) · BMJ · doi:10.1136/bmj.310.6977.452 · Cited by 1,885 · see citing works
Correll, C. U., Solmi, M., Veronese, N., Bortolato, B., Rosson, S., Santonastaso, P., Thapa‐Chhetri, N., Fornaro, M., Gallicchio, D., Collantoni, E., et al. (2017) · World Psychiatry · doi:10.1002/wps.20420 · Cited by 1,729 · see citing works
Exercise as a treatment for depression: a meta-analysis adjusting for publication bias
Schuch, F. B., Vancampfort, D., Richards, J., Rosenbaum, S., Ward, P. B., & Stubbs, B. (2016) · Journal of Psychiatric Research · doi:10.1016/j.jpsychires.2016.02.023 · Cited by 1,529 · see citing works
PRACTICE GUIDELINE FOR THE Treatment of Patients With Major Depressive Disorder
Gelenberg, A. J., Freeman, P. B., Markowitz, J. C., Rosenbaum, J. F., Thase, M. E., Trivedi, M. H., & Rhoads, R. S. (2010) · Cited by 1,372 · see citing works
Rosenberg, M. S. (2005) · Evolution · doi:10.1111/j.0014-3820.2005.tb01004.x · Cited by 1,285 · see citing works
Courneya, K. S., SEGAL, R. J., Mackey, J. R., Gelmon, K. A., Reid, R. D., Friedenreich, C. M., Ladha, A. B., Proulx, C., Vallance, J. K., Lane, K. N., et al. (2007) · Journal of Clinical Oncology · doi:10.1200/jco.2006.08.2024 · Cited by 1,182 · see citing works
Issues and recommendations regarding use of the Beck Depression Inventory
Kendall, P. C., Hollon, S. D., Beck, A. T., Hammen, C. L., & Ingram, R. E. (1987) · Cognitive Therapy and Research · doi:10.1007/bf01186280 · Cited by 1,069 · see citing works
Depression as a risk factor for the onset of type 2 diabetes mellitus. A meta-analysis
Knol, M. J., Twisk, J. W. R., Beekman, A. T. F., Heine, R. J., Snoek, F. J., & Pouwer, F. (2006) · Diabetologia · doi:10.1007/s00125-006-0159-x · Cited by 974 · see citing works
Cooney, G. M., Dwan, K., Greig, C. A., Lawlor, D. A., Rimer, J., Waugh, F. R., McMurdo, M., & Mead, G. E. (2014) · Advances in Psychiatric Treatment · doi:10.1192/apt.20.1.2 · Cited by 895 · see citing works
Whooley, M. A. (2008) · JAMA · doi:10.1001/jama.2008.711 · Cited by 887 · see citing works
Depression as a Risk Factor for Coronary Artery Disease: Evidence, Mechanisms, and Treatment
Lett, H. S., Blumenthal, J. A., Babyak, M. A., Sherwood, A., Strauman, T., Robins, C., & Newman, M. F. (2004) · Psychosomatic Medicine · doi:10.1097/01.psy.0000126207.43307.c0 · Cited by 849 · see citing works
Penninx, B. W., Milaneschi, Y., Lamers, F., & Vogelzangs, N. (2013) · BMC Medicine · doi:10.1186/1741-7015-11-129 · Cited by 839 · see citing works
Normative data for the HADS from a large non-clinical sample
Crawford, J. R., Henry, J. D., Crombie, C., & Taylor, E. P. (2001) · British Journal of Clinical Psychology · doi:10.1348/014466501163904 · Cited by 815 · see citing works
A Meta-analysis to Determine the Dose Response for Strength Development
RHEA, M. R., ALVAR, B. A., BURKETT, L. N., & BALL, S. D. (2003) · Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise · doi:10.1249/01.mss.0000053727.63505.d4 · Cited by 666 · see citing works
Incorporating variations in the quality of individual randomized trials into meta-analysis
Detsky, A. S., Naylor, C. D., O'Rourke, K., McGeer, A. J., & L'Abbé, K. A. (1992) · Journal of Clinical Epidemiology · doi:10.1016/0895-4356(92)90085-2 · Cited by 640 · see citing works
A Review of the Clinical, Economic, and Societal Burden of Treatment-Resistant Depression: 1996–2013
Mrazek, D. A., Hornberger, J. C., Altar, C. A., & Degtiar, I. (2014) · Psychiatric Services · doi:10.1176/appi.ps.201300059 · Cited by 580 · see citing works
Depression as a Risk Factor for Alzheimer Disease: The MIRAGE Study
Green, R. C., Cupples, L. A., Kurz, A., Auerbach, S., Go, R., Sadovnick, D., Duara, R., Kukull, W. A., Chui, H., Edeki, T., et al. (2003) · Archives of Neurology · doi:10.1001/archneur.60.5.753 · Cited by 551 · see citing works
Sobocki, P., Jönsson, B., Angst, J., & Rehnberg, C. (2006) · PubMed · Cited by 533 · see citing works
Hróbjartsson, A., Thomsen, A. S. S., Emanuelsson, F., Tendal, B., Hilden, J., Boutron, I., Ravaud, P., & Brorson, S. (2012) · BMJ · doi:10.1136/bmj.e1119 · Cited by 487 · see citing works
O’Reilly, S., Muir, K. R., & Doherty, M. (1999) · Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases · doi:10.1136/ard.58.1.15 · Cited by 458 · see citing works
A Randomized Controlled Trial of Progressive Resistance Training in Depressed Elders
Singh, N. A., Clements, K. M., & Fiatarone, M. A. (1997) · The Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences · doi:10.1093/gerona/52a.1.m27 · Cited by 439 · see citing works
Cuijpers, P., Smit, F., Bohlmeijer, E., Hollon, S. D., & Andersson, G. (2010) · British Journal of Psychiatry · doi:10.1192/bjp.bp.109.066001 · Cited by 391 · see citing works
Herring, M. P. (2012) · Archives of Internal Medicine · doi:10.1001/archinternmed.2011.696 · Cited by 362 · see citing works
Self-citationSingh, N. A., Clements, K. M., & Singh, M. A. F. (2001) · The Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences · doi:10.1093/gerona/56.8.m497 · Cited by 346 · see citing works
Penninx, B. W. J. H., Rejeski, W. J., Pandya, J., Miller, M. E., Di Bari, M., Applegate, W. B., & Pahor, M. (2002) · The Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences · doi:10.1093/geronb/57.2.p124 · Cited by 341 · see citing works
Running versus weight lifting in the treatment of depression.
Doyne, E. J., Ossip-Klein, D. J., Bowman, E. D., Osborn, K. M., McDougall-Wilson, I. B., & Neimeyer, R. A. (1987) · Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology · doi:10.1037//0022-006x.55.5.748 · Cited by 326 · see citing works
Gordon, B. R., McDowell, C. P., Lyons, M., & Herring, M. P. (2017) · Sports Medicine · doi:10.1007/s40279-017-0769-0 · Cited by 306 · see citing works
Self-citationA Randomized Controlled Trial of the Effect of Exercise on Sleep
Singh, N. A., Clements, K. M., & Fiatarone, M. A. (1997) · Sleep · doi:10.1093/sleep/20.2.95 · Cited by 291 · see citing works
Fatigue, mood and quality of life improve in MS patients after progressive resistance training
Dalgas, U., Stenager, E., Jakobsen, J., Petersen, T., Hansen, H. J., Knudsen, C., Overgaard, K., & Ingemann-Hansen, T. (2010) · Multiple Sclerosis · doi:10.1177/1352458509360040 · Cited by 260 · see citing works
The STAR*D study: treating depression in the real world.
Gaynes, B. N., Rush, A. J., Trivedi, M. H., Wisniewski, S. R., Spencer, D. D., & D, M. F. M. (2008) · Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine · doi:10.3949/ccjm.75.1.57 · Cited by 248 · see citing works
Running versus weight lifting in the treatment of depression.
Doyne, E. J., Ossip-Klein, D. J., Bowman, E. D., et al. (1987) · Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology · doi:10.1037/0022-006x.55.5.748 · Cited by 231 · see citing works
HÄKKINEN, A. H., Häkkinen, K., Hannonen, P., & Alen, M. (2001) · Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases · doi:10.1136/ard.60.1.21 · Cited by 213 · see citing works
Geliebter, A., Maher, M., Gerace, L., Gutin, B., Heymsfield, S. B., & Hashim, S. (1997) · American Journal of Clinical Nutrition · doi:10.1093/ajcn/66.3.557 · Cited by 190 · see citing works
Hallgren, M. Å., Kraepelien, M., Öjehagen, A., Lindefors, N., Zeebari, Z., Kaldo, V., & Forsell, Y. (2015) · The British Journal of Psychiatry · doi:10.1192/bjp.bp.114.160101 · Cited by 163 · see citing works
Self-citationStubbs, B., Rosenbaum, S., Vancampfort, D., Ward, P. B., & Schuch, F. B. (2016) · Journal of Affective Disorders · doi:10.1016/j.jad.2015.10.010 · Cited by 163 · see citing works
Adamson, B., Ensari, I., & Motl, R. W. (2015) · Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation · doi:10.1016/j.apmr.2015.01.005 · Cited by 155 · see citing works
Mental Health Benefits of Strength Training in Adults
O'Connor, P. J., Herring, M. P., & Caravalho, A. (2010) · American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine · doi:10.1177/1559827610368771 · Cited by 153 · see citing works
Self-citationInfluence of Exercise Intensity for Improving Depressed Mood in Depression: A Dose-Response Study
Meyer, J. D., Koltyn, K. F., Stegner, A. J., Kim, J., & Cook, D. B. (2016) · Behavior Therapy · doi:10.1016/j.beth.2016.04.003 · Cited by 141 · see citing works
Self-citationPilu, A., Sorba, M., Hardoy, M. C., Floris, A. L., Mannu, F., Seruis, M. L., Velluti, C., Carpiniello, B., Salvi, M., & Carta, M. G. (2007) · Clinical Practice and Epidemiology in Mental Health · doi:10.1186/1745-0179-3-8 · Cited by 126 · see citing works
The effects of aerobic and resistance exercises in obese women
Sarsan, A., Ardıç, F., Özgen, M., Topuz, O., & Sermez, Y. (2006) · Clinical Rehabilitation · doi:10.1177/0269215506070795 · Cited by 125 · see citing works
Evidence of cost-effective treatments for depression: a systematic review
Barrett, B. M., Byford, S., & Knapp, M. R. J. (2004) · Journal of Affective Disorders · doi:10.1016/j.jad.2004.10.003 · Cited by 122 · see citing works
The Effects of Strength Training on Strength and Health-Related Quality of Life in Older Adult Women
Damush, T. M., & Damush, J. G. (1999) · The Gerontologist · doi:10.1093/geront/39.6.705 · Cited by 115 · see citing works
Ekkekakis, P. (2015) · Mental Health and Physical Activity · doi:10.1016/j.mhpa.2014.12.001 · Cited by 114 · see citing works
Goldfield, G. S., Kenny, G. P., Alberga, A. S., Prud’homme, D., Hadjiyannakis, S., Gougeon, R., Phillips, P., Tulloch, H. E., Malcolm, J., Doucette, S. P., et al. (2015) · Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology · doi:10.1037/ccp0000038 · Cited by 110 · see citing works
Alves, C. R. R., Merege Filho, C. A. A., Benatti, F. B., Brucki, S., Pereira, R. M. R., de Sá Pinto, A. L., Lima, F. R., Roschel, H., & Gualano, B. (2013) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0076301 · Cited by 109 · see citing works
Ansai, J. H., & Rebelatto, J. R. (2014) · Geriatrics and gerontology international/Geriatrics & gerontology international · doi:10.1111/ggi.12411 · Cited by 96 · see citing works
Sims, J., Galea, M. P., Taylor, N. F., Dodd, K., Jespersen, S., Joubert, L., & Joubert, L. (2008) · International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry · doi:10.1002/gps.2082 · Cited by 96 · see citing works
Effects of short-term exercise training on signs and symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder
Herring, M. P., Jacob, M. L., Suveg, C., & O’Connor, P. J. (2011) · Mental Health and Physical Activity · doi:10.1016/j.mhpa.2011.07.002 · Cited by 93 · see citing works
Self-citationEffects of training and albuterol on pain and fatigue in facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy
van der Kooi, E. L., Kalkman, J. S., Lindeman, E., Hendriks, J. C. M., van Engelen, B. G. M., Bleijenberg, G., & Padberg, G. W. (2007) · Journal of Neurology · doi:10.1007/s00415-006-0432-4 · Cited by 84 · see citing works
Hallgren, M., Helgadóttir, B., Herring, M. P., Zeebari, Z., Lindefors, N., Kaldo, V., Öjehagen, A., & Forsell, Y. (2016) · British Journal of Psychiatry · doi:10.1192/bjp.bp.115.177576 · Cited by 78 · see citing works
Self-citationNyberg, A., Lindström, B., Rickenlund, A., & Wadell, K. (2014) · The Clinical Respiratory Journal · doi:10.1111/crj.12141 · Cited by 76 · see citing works
Vizza, L., Smith, C. A., Swaraj, S., Agho, K., & Cheema, B. S. (2016) · BMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation · doi:10.1186/s13102-016-0039-8 · Cited by 74 · see citing works
Psychological and physical benefits of circuit weight training in law enforcement personnel.
Norvell, N. K., & Belles, D. R. (1993) · Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology · doi:10.1037//0022-006x.61.3.520 · Cited by 67 · see citing works
Abrahão, M., Gomiero, A. B., Peccin, M. S., Grande, A. J., & Trevisani, V. F. M. (2015) · Scandinavian Journal of Rheumatology · doi:10.3109/03009742.2015.1094126 · Cited by 65 · see citing works
Sparrow, D., Gottlieb, D. J., DeMolles, D. A., & Fielding, R. A. (2011) · The Journals of Gerontology Series A · doi:10.1093/gerona/glr138 · Cited by 64 · see citing works
Wolitzky-Taylor, K., Dour, H., Zinbarg, R., Mineka, S., Vrshek-Schallhorn, S., Epstein, A., Bobova, L., Griffith, J., Waters, A., Nazarian, M., et al. (2014) · Depression and Anxiety · doi:10.1002/da.22250 · Cited by 61 · see citing works
Sex-Related Differences in Mood Responses to Acute Aerobic Exercise
McDowell, C. P., Campbell, M. J., & Herring, M. P. (2016) · Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise · doi:10.1249/mss.0000000000000969 · Cited by 61 · see citing works
Self-citationLincoln, A. K., Shepherd, A., Johnson, P. L., & Castaneda‐Sceppa, C. (2011) · The Journals of Gerontology Series B · doi:10.1093/geronb/gbr034 · Cited by 60 · see citing works
Munce, S. E. P., Stansfeld, S. A., Blackmore, E. R., & Stewart, D. E. (2007) · Journal of Occupational & Environmental Medicine · doi:10.1097/jom.0b013e318157f0ba · Cited by 57 · see citing works
Psychological and physical benefits of circuit weight training in law enforcement personnel.
Norvell, N. K., & Belles, D. R. (1993) · Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology · doi:10.1037/0022-006x.61.3.520 · Cited by 52 · see citing works
Martins, R. A., Silva, M. C. E., Pindus, D. M., Cumming, S. P., Teixeira, A. M., & Veríssimo, M. T. (2011) · PubMed · Cited by 51 · see citing works
Putiri, A., Lovejoy, J. C., Gillham, S., Sasagawa, M., Bradley, R. D., & Sun, G. C. (2012) · PubMed · Cited by 32 · see citing works
The efficacy of 12 weeks supervised exercise in obesity management
Herring, L. Y., Wagstaff, C. R. D., & Scott, A. (2014) · Clinical Obesity · doi:10.1111/cob.12063 · Cited by 28 · see citing works
Relationship Between Depression and Strength Training in Survivors of the Ischemic Stroke
Aidar, F. J., de Matos, D. G., de Oliveira, R. J., Carneiro, A. L. G., Cabral, B. G. D. A. T., Dantas, P. M. S., & Reis, V. M. (2014) · Journal of Human Kinetics · doi:10.2478/hukin-2014-0084 · Cited by 28 · see citing works
The physiological and psychological effects of resistance training on Chinese obese adolescents
Lau, W. C., Yu, C., Lee, A. M., & Sung, R. Y. T. (2006) · HKBU Institutional Repository (Hong Kong Baptist University) · Cited by 27 · see citing works
Resistance Training Improves Depressive Symptoms in Individuals at High Risk for Type 2 Diabetes
Levinger, I., Selig, S., Goodman, C. A., Jerums, G., Stewart, A., & Hare, D. L. (2011) · The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research · doi:10.1519/jsc.0b013e3181f8fd4a · Cited by 23 · see citing works
Zanuso, S., Sieverdes, J. C., Smith, N., Carraro, A., & Bergamin, M. (2012) · Open Research (University of Surrey) · doi:10.7352/ijsp.2012.43.053 · Cited by 21 · see citing works
Karahan, A. Y., Şahin, N., & Başkent, A. (2016) · Journal of Back and Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation · doi:10.3233/bmr-160722 · Cited by 18 · see citing works
Predictors for not completing exercise-based rehabilitation following cardiac surgery
Laustsen, S., Hjortdal, V. E., & Petersen, A. K. (2013) · Scandinavian Cardiovascular Journal · doi:10.3109/14017431.2013.859295 · Cited by 16 · see citing works
Flagged first, then by citations
Research works printed but not linked: 3
- [30]30. Hedges LV, Olkin I. Statistical Methods for Meta-Analysis. San Diego, CA: Academic Press; 1985.
- [36]36. Green S, Higgins JPT, Alderson P, Clarke M, Mulrow CD, Oxman AD. Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions. Vol 4. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons; 2011.
- [68]68. Tapps T, Passmore T, Lindenmeier D, Bishop A. An investigation into the effects of resistance based physical activity participation on depression of older adults in a long-term care facility. Annu Ther Recreation. 2013;21:63-72.
Cited by
Sorted by citations
International exercise recommendations in older adults (ICFSR): Expert consensus guidelines
Izquierdo, M., Merchant, R. A., Morley, J. E., Anker, S. D., Aprahamian, I., Arai, H., Aubertin-Leheudre, M., Bernabei, R., Cadore, E. L., Cesari, M., et al. (2021) · The Journal of nutrition, health and aging · doi:10.1007/s12603-021-1665-8 · Cited by 1,247 · see citing works
Firth, J., Solmi, M., Wootton, R. E., Vancampfort, D., Schuch, F. B., Hoare, E., Gilbody, S., Torous, J., Teasdale, S. B., Jackson, S. E., et al. (2020) · World Psychiatry · doi:10.1002/wps.20773 · Cited by 1,148 · see citing works
Singh, B., Olds, T., Curtis, R., Dumuid, D., Virgara, R., Watson, A., Szeto, K., O'Connor, E., Ferguson, T., Eglitis, E., et al. (2023) · British Journal of Sports Medicine · doi:10.1136/bjsports-2022-106195 · Cited by 1,049 · see citing works
Choi, K. W., Chen, C.-Y., Stein, M. B., Klimentidis, Y. C., Wang, M.-J., Koenen, K. C., Smoller, J. W., & Major Depressive Disorder Working Group of the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium (2019) · JAMA Psychiatry · doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2018.4175 · Cited by 744 · see citing works
Physical activity and muscle-brain crosstalk
Pedersen, B. K. (2019) · Nature Reviews Endocrinology · doi:10.1038/s41574-019-0174-x · Cited by 772 · see citing works
Malhi, G. S., Bell, E., Bassett, D., Boyce, P., Bryant, R., Hazell, P., Hopwood, M., Lyndon, B., Mulder, R., Porter, R., et al. (2021) · Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry · doi:10.1177/0004867420979353 · Cited by 614 · see citing works
Ashdown-Franks, G., Firth, J., Carney, R., Carvalho, A. F., Hallgren, M., Koyanagi, A., Rosenbaum, S., Schuch, F. B., Smith, L., Solmi, M., et al. (2020) · Sports Medicine · doi:10.1007/s40279-019-01187-6 · Cited by 446 · see citing works
Self-citationThe Role of Exercise in Management of Mental Health Disorders: An Integrative Review
Smith, P. J., & Merwin, R. M. (2021) · Annual Review of Medicine · doi:10.1146/annurev-med-060619-022943 · Cited by 360 · see citing works
Fyfe, J. J., Hamilton, D. L., & Daly, R. M. (2022) · Sports Medicine · doi:10.1007/s40279-021-01605-8 · Cited by 172 · see citing works
A meta-analysis on heart rate variability biofeedback and depressive symptoms
Pizzoli, S. F. M., Marzorati, C., Gatti, D., Monzani, D., Mazzocco, K., & Pravettoni, G. (2021) · Scientific Reports · doi:10.1038/s41598-021-86149-7 · Cited by 170 · see citing works
The impact of exercise on depression: how moving makes your brain and body feel better
Hossain, M. N., Lee, J., Choi, H., Kwak, Y.-S., & Kim, J. (2024) · Physical Activity and Nutrition · doi:10.20463/pan.2024.0015 · Cited by 137 · see citing works
Exercise as a therapeutic modality for the prevention and treatment of depression
Blumenthal, J. A., & Rozanski, A. (2023) · Progress in Cardiovascular Diseases · doi:10.1016/j.pcad.2023.02.008 · Cited by 95 · see citing works
Bennie, J. A., Teychenne, M. J., De Cocker, K., & Biddle, S. J. H. (2019) · Preventive Medicine · doi:10.1016/j.ypmed.2019.02.022 · Cited by 95 · see citing works
Choi, K. W., Zheutlin, A. B., Karlson, R. A., Wang, M., Dunn, E. C., Stein, M. B., Karlson, E. W., & Smoller, J. W. (2020) · Depression and Anxiety · doi:10.1002/da.22967 · Cited by 68 · see citing works
Nuzzo, J. L., Pinto, M. D., Kirk, B. J. C., & Nosaka, K. (2024) · Sports Medicine · doi:10.1007/s40279-024-02009-0 · Cited by 56 · see citing works
CURRIER, B. S., D’SOUZA, A. C., SINGH, M. A. F., LOWISZ, C. V., RAWSON, E. S., SCHOENFELD, B. J., SMITH-RYAN, A. E., STEEN, J. P., THOMAS, G. A., TRIPLETT, N. T., et al. (2026) · Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise · doi:10.1249/mss.0000000000003897 · Cited by 55 · see citing works
“Beyond the hallmark improvements in skeletal muscle mass and function, the benefits of engaging in RT include reduced mortality and risk for and management of cardiovascular disease, cancer, and diabetes (4–6), reduced depression (7,8), and improved sleep quality (9).”
Mc Dowell, C. P., Carlin, A., Capranica, L., Dillon, C., Harrington, J. M., Lakerveld, J., Loyen, A., Ling, F. C. M., Brug, J., MacDonncha, C., et al. (2018) · BMC Public Health · doi:10.1186/s12889-018-5702-4 · Cited by 41 · see citing works
“Exercise has been show to be a viable treatment for depression and depressive symptoms [6, 7]; however, evidence indicates that approximately 63% of people with mental health problems, including depression, do not seek specialist treatment and only half of those who do appear to improve [8].”
Self-citationGordon, B. R., McDowell, C. P., Lyons, M., & Herring, M. P. (2019) · Journal of Affective Disorders · doi:10.1016/j.jad.2019.05.043 · Cited by 37 · see citing works
Self-citationCarneiro, L., Afonso, J., Ramirez-Campillo, R., Murawska-Ciałowciz, E., Marques, A., & Clemente, F. M. (2020) · International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · doi:10.3390/ijerph17186715 · Cited by 31 · see citing works
Korman, N., Fox, H., Skinner, T., Dodd, C., Suetani, S., Chapman, J., Parker, S., Dark, F., Collins, C., Rosenbaum, S., et al. (2020) · Frontiers in Psychiatry · doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2020.00319 · Cited by 27 · see citing works
Gaia, J. W. P., Schuch, F. B., Ferreira, R. W., Souza, E. D. L., Ferreira, V. M. S., & Pires, D. A. (2024) · Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports · doi:10.1111/sms.14618 · Cited by 26 · see citing works
Exercise for the Management of Anxiety and Stress-Related Disorders
Herring, M. P. (2018) · Exercise-Based Interventions for Mental Illness · doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-812605-9.00002-2 · Cited by 15 · see citing works
Self-citationMcDowell, C. P., Gordon, B. R., MacDonncha, C., & Herring, M. P. (2019) · General Hospital Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2019.04.012 · Cited by 7 · see citing works
Self-citationCarneiro, L., Silva, F., Vasoncelos-Raposo, J., Mota, M. P., Vieira-Coelho, M. A., Deslandes, A., Marinho, H., Amaral, G., & Monteiro-Júnior, R. (2020) · doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-24600/v1 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
- Authors
- Gordon, B. R., McDowell, C. P., Hallgren, M., Meyer, J. D., Lyons, M., & Herring, M. P.
- Affiliations
- University of Limerick (IE)
- Karolinska Institutet (SE)
- Iowa State University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Gordon, Brett R.
- ORCID
- Venue
- JAMA Psychiatry
- Publisher
- American Medical Association (AMA)
- Published
- 2018-06-01
- Volume
- 75
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 566
- ISSN
- 2168-622X (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC6137526
- OpenAlex
- W2800752652
- Cited by
- 498
- References
- 89
- Citations by year
- 2026: 76 · 2025: 64 · 2024: 71 · 2023: 65 · 2022: 74 · 2021: 54 · 2020: 47 · 2019: 35 · 2018: 10
- FWCI
- 4.79
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- JAMA Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Physical Activity and Health
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology › Treatment of Major Depression
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
- Keywords
- resistance training, depressive symptoms, antidepressant effects, exercise and mental health, exercise volume, muscle strength, physical illness, mental illness, effect size heterogeneity, number needed to treat, adults, quality of evidence, risk of bias
- MeSH terms
- Depression, Humans, Regression Analysis, Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic, Resistance Training
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
