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The Effect of Exercise on Clinical Depression and Depression Resulting from Mental Illness: A Meta-Analysis
Abstract
The effect of exercise on negative affect has been examined in hundreds of studies. However, the effect of exercise on diagnosed clinical depression has received far less attention. Furthermore, poor methodological techniques predominate and results have been conflicting. A meta-analysis was conducted to investigate the effect of exercise on clinical depression and depression resulting from mental illness. The chosen studies examined the effect of a chronic exercise paradigm (independent variable) on depression (dependent variable). Each study’s variables were coded: design, subjects, exercise, and dependent measure characteristics that could moderate the effect of exercise on depression. Moderator variables were analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA). Results from 30 studies showed an overall mean effect of −.72. Therefore, individuals who exercised were −.72 of a standard deviation less depressed than individuals who did not exercise. Moderating variables and implications for the prescription of exercise as an effective treatment for depression are discussed.
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In the citing paper
“Three meta-analyses have looked at the effect of exercise on depression, and all found a benefit.[9][10][11]”
In the citing paper
“The size of the effect of exercise compared with no treatment in the studies we analysed is similar to those found by three previous meta-analyses.[9][10][11]”
In the citing paper
“However, these analyses pooled data from a range of study types that included uncontrolled studies and randomised as well as non-randomised controlled trials.They also pooled data from trials that compared exercise and no treatment with data from trials that compared exercise and other forms of treatment, and they did not explicitly assess the quality of the studies.”
In the citing paper
“Several meta-analyses (Craft 1998;Carlson 1991;North 1990;Lawlor 2001;Stathopoulou 2006;Sjosten 2006) have looked at the effect of exercise on depression and all found that exercise was of benefit.”
From Exercise for depression (2009) · cites this paper as Craft 1998
In the citing paper
“However, three of these reviews pooled data from a range of study types that included uncontrolled studies and randomised as well as non-randomised controlled trials, and pooled data from trials that compared exercise and no treatment with data from trials that compared exercise and other forms of treatment (Craft 1998;Carlson 1991;North 1990).”
From Exercise for depression (2009) · cites this paper as Craft 1998
In the citing paper
“Previous systematic reviews which found that exercise improved depression included uncontrolled trials (North 1990;Craft 1998;Carlson 1991, so the results of these reviews are probably biased in favour of exercise.”
From Exercise for depression (2009) · cites this paper as Craft 1998
In the citing paper
“This was partly consistent with previous meta-analyses in which the length of exercise was the only characteristic related to the effect size for depression treatment [168, 169], and where 9–12 weeks were associated with the largest reduction.”
From Comparative Effectiveness of Multiple Exercise Interventions in the Treatment of Mental Health Disorders: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis (2022) · cites this paper as [168]
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Metadata
- Authors
- Craft, L. L., & Landers, D. M.
- Affiliations
- Arizona State University (US)
- Venue
- Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology
- Publisher
- Human Kinetics
- Published
- 1998-12
- Volume
- 20
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 339-357
- ISSN
- 0895-2779 (ISSN-L)
- 1543-2904
- OpenAlex
- W2160091667
- Cited by
- 480
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 5 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 13 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 19 · 2021: 11 · 2020: 12 · 2019: 13 · 2018: 16 · 2017: 15 · 2016: 17 · 2015: 23 · 2014: 18 · 2013: 15 · 2012: 27
- FWCI
- 4.64
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Physical Activity and Health
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology (medical) › Treatment of Major Depression
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
- Keywords
- physical activity, major depressive disorder, depression, mental illness, exercise training, exercise therapy, negative affect, exercise prescription
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