Sedentary behaviour and the risk of depression: a meta-analysis
Abstract
Background: Sedentary behaviour is associated with risk of depression. We review and quantitatively summarise the evidence from observational studies in a meta-analysis. Methods: We searched the PubMed, Web of Knowledge, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure and Wanfang databases for observational studies related to the association of sedentary behaviour and depression risk up to 15 January 2014. Summary relative risks (RRs) were estimated by the use of a random effects model. Results: Thirteen cross-sectional studies with 110 152 participants and 11 longitudinal studies with 83 014 participants were included in this meta-analysis. The summary RR of depression for the highest versus non-occasional/occasional sedentary behaviour was 1.25 (95% CI 1.16 to 1.35, I 2=50.7%) for all included studies. The pooled RRs of depression for sedentary behaviour were 1.31 (95% CI 1.16 to 1.48) in cross-sectional studies and 1.14 (95% CI 1.06 to 1.21) in longitudinal studies. In subgroup analysis by different types of sedentary behaviour, the pooled RRs of depression were 1.13 (95% CI 1.06 to 1.21) for long-time TV viewing and 1.22 (95% CI 1.10 to 1.34) for prolonged computer or internet use. Conclusions: This meta-analysis of observational studies indicates that sedentary behaviour is associated with increased risk of depression.
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Sedentary time increases the risk of depression.
“Meta-analyses of prospective cohort studies showed that physical activity had a protective effect against the future onset of depression [17], while sedentary time increased the risk of depression [18].”
From Digital Biomarkers for Depression Screening With Wearable Devices: Cross-sectional Study With Machine Learning Modeling (2021) · cites this paper as [18]
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- Authors
- Zhai, L., Zhang, Y., & Zhang, D.
- Affiliations
- Qingdao University (CN)
- Corresponding author
- Zhang, Dongfeng
- ORCID
- Zhang, Dongfeng
- Venue
- British Journal of Sports Medicine
- Publisher
- BMJ
- Published
- 2014-09-02
- Volume
- 49
- Issue
- 11
- Pages
- 705-709
- ISSN
- 0306-3674 (ISSN-L)
- 1473-0480
- OpenAlex
- W2156295306
- Cited by
- 500
- References
- 51
- Citations by year
- 2026: 26 · 2025: 37 · 2024: 47 · 2023: 55 · 2022: 58 · 2021: 66 · 2020: 81 · 2019: 41 · 2018: 44 · 2017: 16 · 2016: 16 · 2015: 12
- FWCI
- 1.72
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- British Journal of Sports Medicine (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Physical Activity and Health
- Social Sciences › Health › Health disparities and outcomes
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Workplace Health and Well-being
- Keywords
- sedentary behavior, depression, depression risk, television viewing, computer and internet use, prolonged screen time, physical inactivity
- MeSH terms
- Depressive Disorder, Epidemiologic Methods, Female, Humans, Male, Publication Bias, Sedentary Behavior
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