Cited by 192Physical Activity and HealthMental Health Research TopicsAnxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes

Walk on the bright side: Physical activity and affect in major depressive disorder.

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Mata, Jutta, Thompson, Renee J., Jaeggi, Susanne M., Buschkuehl, Martin, Jonides, John, Gotlib, Ian H.·2012·Journal of Abnormal Psychology

Abstract

Although prescribed exercise has been found to improve affect and reduce levels of depression, we do not know how self-initiated everyday physical activity influences levels of positive affect (PA) and negative affect (NA) in depressed persons. Fifty-three individuals diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and 53 never-depressed controls participated in a seven-day experience sampling study. Participants were prompted randomly eight times per day and answered questions about their physical activity and affective state. Over the week, the two groups of participants did not differ in average level of physical activity. As expected, participants with MDD reported lower average PA and higher average NA than did never-depressed controls. Both participants with MDD and controls reported higher levels of PA at prompts after physical activity than at prompts after inactive periods; moreover, for both groups of participants, PA increased from a prompt after an inactive period to a subsequent prompt at which activity was reported. Depressed participants in particular showed a dose-response effect of physical activity on affect: longer duration and/or higher intensity of physical activity increased their PA significantly more than did short duration and/or lower intensity physical activity. Physical activity did not influence NA in either group. In contrast to previous treatment studies that examined the effects of prescribed structured exercise, this investigation showed that self-initiated physical activity influences PA. These findings also underscore the importance of distinguishing between PA and NA to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the effects of physical activity on affect in MDD.

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Authors
Mata, J., Thompson, R. J., Jaeggi, S. M., Buschkuehl, M., Jonides, J., & Gotlib, I. H.
Affiliations
  • Stanford University (US)
  • University of Michigan (US)
Venue
Journal of Abnormal Psychology
Published
2012-05
Volume
121
Issue
2
Pages
297-308
ISSN
  • 0021-843X (ISSN-L)
  • 1939-1846
OpenAlex
W2114912764
Cited by
191
References
73
Citations by year
2026: 6 · 2025: 10 · 2024: 9 · 2023: 12 · 2022: 12 · 2021: 14 · 2020: 21 · 2019: 9 · 2018: 11 · 2017: 13 · 2016: 15 · 2015: 17 · 2014: 10 · 2013: 15 · 2012: 13
FWCI
9.38
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Journal of Abnormal Psychology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • MADOC (University of Mannheim) (acceptedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
  • MPG.PuRe (Max Planck Society) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (SFRH/BPD/35953/2007)
  • Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (Wi3496/4-1)
  • National Institute of Mental Health (MH74849, MH60655, MH59259)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Physical Activity and Health
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Mental Health Research Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
Keywords
major depressive disorder, physical activity, positive affect, negative affect, daily physical activity, dose-response relationship, affective states, ecological momentary assessment
MeSH terms
Adult, Affect, Circadian Rhythm, Cues, Major Depressive Disorder, Exercise Therapy, Female, Humans, Male, Time Factors, Exercise, Case-Control Studies

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