Correlation and pathways of behavioral activation systems mediating physical activity level and depressive symptoms among college students

Jiang-Hua Zhu; Shu-Fan Li; Peng Wang; Xin Xin; Qun Zhao; Si-Cheng Chen; Xing Wang

doi:10.5498/wjp.v13.i10.784

Correlation and pathways of behavioral activation systems mediating physical activity level and depressive symptoms among college students

World J Psychiatry. 2023 Oct 19;13(10):784-792. doi: 10.5498/wjp.v13.i10.784.

Authors

Jiang-Hua Zhu¹, Shu-Fan Li², Peng Wang², Xin Xin², Qun Zhao¹, Si-Cheng Chen², Xing Wang³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Physical Education, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, China.
² School of Physical Education, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai 200438, China.
³ School of Physical Education, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai 200438, China. wangxing1933@sus.edu.cn.

Abstract

Background: Depression is a common mental disorder among college students. The main symptoms include being persistent low mood, sad emotional experiences, lack of pleasure, listlessness, and impaired cognitive function accompanied by tendencies of self-harm and suicide.

Aim: To clarify the pathways and effects of the behavioral activation system between physical activity and depressive symptoms in college students with depressive symptoms.

Methods: This cross-sectional research screened 3047 college students. Of these, 472 had depressive symptoms, with a depression detection rate of 15.49%. Furthermore, 442 college students with depressive symptoms were analyzed. A one-way analysis of variance and Pearson's correlation, linear regression, and structural equation modeling analyses were used to explore the correlations and pathways of the interactions between the variables.

Results: Depressive symptoms were significantly negatively correlated with physical activity (r = -0.175, P < 0.001), the behavioral activation system (r = -0.197, P < 0.001), and drive (r = -0.113, P = 0.017). Furthermore, it was negatively correlated with fun-seeking (FS) (r = -0.055, P = 0.251); however, it was not significant. Physical activity was significantly positively correlated with reward responsiveness (RR) (r = 0.141, P = 0.003) and drive (r = 0.124, P = 0.009) and not significantly positively correlated with FS (r = 0.090, P = 0.058). The mediating effect of RR between physical activity and depressive symptoms was significant [B = -0.025, 95% confidence interval (95%CI): -0.051 to -0.008, P = 0.001]. The direct and total effects of physical activity on depressive symptoms and were significant (B = -0.150, 95%CI: -0.233 to -0.073, P < 0.001; B = -0.175, 95%CI: -0.260 to -0.099, P < 0.001), respectively.

Conclusion: As physical activity levels increased, depression scores among college students decreased. The mediating effect of RR between physical activity and depressive symptoms was significant. Therefore, colleges and universities should encourage college students with depression to increase their physical activity and improve their behavioral activation system. Particular attention should be paid to RR, which may reduce the prevalence of depressive symptoms.

Keywords: Behavioral activation system; College students; Depressive symptoms; Mediating role; Physical activity.