Physical activity is associated with depression and depressive symptoms in US adults with diabetes: a cross-sectional study

Physical Activity (PA) is crucial for the management of diabetes. Since PA participation has a positive effect on mental health, it was hypothesized that PA and depression could be associated in individuals with diabetes. The aim of this research was to study whether there are associations of PA with depression and depressive symptoms in diabetics. Additionally, a potential dose-response relationship of PA with depression and depressive symptoms and the risk of suffering depression and depressive symptoms according to PA group were explored. This cross-sectional study is based on data from the NHANES 2011-2020, the study sample was formed by 3017 (1585 males and 1432 females) US adults with diabetes. Associations were studied through the Chi-squared test. The Kruskal Wallis test was used to study differences in depression scores. Correlations were studied through Spearman´s rho, and the odds ratios were calculated using a binary logistic regression model. Associations of PA with depression prevalence (p p < 0.05) were found. Greater incidence of major depression, depressive symptoms and greater depression scores in the PHQ-9 were found for inactive diabetes patients. Correlations of PA group and METs with PHQ-9 scores and the frequency of depressive symptoms for each item of the PHQ-9 were found, except for the 7th item (concentration problems). Increased odds of suffering major depression (OR = 1.957 (CI95% = 1.310-2.923)) and all the depressive symptoms studied were found for physically inactive diabetes patients compared to those from the moderate PA group. The association of PA with depression and the frequency of suffering depressive symptoms in US adults with diabetes were confirmed. Greater prevalence of depression and greater frequency of depressive symptoms were found for physically inactive diabetes sufferers. A dose-response relationship between PA and frequency of depressive symptoms is suggested.