Exercise and clinical depression: examining two psychological mechanisms

Exercisers reported lower depression scores than controls at Week 3 and a significant negative relationship between coping self-efficacy and depression was found at both Weeks 3 and 9; however, there was limited support for distraction as a potential mechanism.

Abstract

Objectives: To examine the antidepressant effects of exercise, and two previously proposed psychological mechanisms for this effect: self-efficacy and distraction. Method: A quasi-experimental design was utilized with participants (N=19) self-selecting to either a control or a 9-week exercise group. Dependent variables included severity of depression, coping self-efficacy, rumination, and distraction and were measured at study entry, 3 and 9 weeks later. Results: Exercisers reported lower depression scores than controls at Week 3 [9.3 (4.8) vs. 24.7 (12.0), p0.05]. Partial correlations, controlling for baseline values of the independent variables, were conducted and a significant negative relationship between coping self-efficacy and depression was found at both Weeks 3 and 9. Conclusions: Exercise was associated with a reduction in the symptoms of depression. Support was found for coping self-efficacy as a potential mechanism; however, there was limited support for distraction as a potential mechanism.