Health-related fitness, physical activity behavior, and depression

Introduction

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship among fitness level, stage of change of physical activity (PA) behavior, and depression.

Methods

Volunteer participants (N=115, mean age 40.31, age range: 18-62 year) consisted of 43 males and 72 females of Taipei citizens who participated in an organized health-related fitness test. Survey included Stage of Change of Physical Activity Behavior Scale and Becker’s Depression Scale were administered at the end of test. One-minute-sit-up test, sit-and-reach test and 3-minute step test were utilized respectively to obtain the participants’ fitness level, which included muscular endurance, flexibility and cardiovascular endurance. According to the Fitness Norms developed by National Council on Physical Fitness and Sport, Chinese Taipei (1999), there were 5 categories of fitness level, which were excellent, good, average, below average, and poor. Pearson Product Moment correlation was used for statistical analyses.

Results

1.Significant correlation was found between the stage of change of PA behavior and muscular endurance (r=.36, P＜.05), but not between flexibility and cardiovascular endurance.
2.Significant correlation was found between the stage of change of PA behavior and age (r=.28, P＜.05)
3.No significant correlation was found between the stage of change of PA behavior and depression.

Discussion/ Conclusions

No significant correlation between the stage of change of PA behavior and depression was found, therefore, the suggestion is that specific psychological strategies to facilitate the exercise program must be purposely planned and implemented to obtain both mental and physical fitness. Furthermore, the results showed that the older the participants were the higher the level of physical activity behavior, which was worth noticing. It’s possible that the older population were more health-consciousness than that of their younger counterparts in this study.

References

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