Depressive Symptoms Are Associated With Accelerometer-Measured Physical Activity and Time in Bed Among Working-Aged Men and Women

Background: Depression is a significant health problem, whereas higher physical activity (PA) associates with fewer depressive symptoms. We examined how self-reported depressive symptoms are associated with accelerometer-measured PA, standing, sedentary behavior, and time in bed (TIB) among 20- to 69-year-old men and women. Methods: The study is a part of the cross-sectional, population-based FinFit2017 study, in which depressive symptoms were assessed by modified nine-item Finnish version of the Patient Health Questionnaire, and physical behavior in terms of PA, sedentary behavior, standing, and TIB was assessed 24/7 by a triaxial accelerometer. During waking hours, the accelerometer was hip worn. Intensity of PA was analyzed by mean amplitude deviation and body posture by angle for posture estimation algorithms. During TIB, the device was wrist worn, and the analysis was based on the wrist movements. A total of 1,823 participants answered the nine-item Finnish version of the Patient Health Questionnaire and used the accelerometer 24 hr at least 4 days per week. Results: Men without depressive symptoms had on average more standing, light, and moderate to vigorous PA and steps, and less low and high movement TIB than the men with at least moderate symptoms, when age group, education, work status, marital status, and fitness were adjusted for. The asymptomatic women had more moderate to vigorous PA and steps and less high movement TIB than the women with at least moderate symptoms. Conclusions: Depressive symptoms were associated with lower levels of PA and longer TIB. It is important to identify these symptoms as early as possible to be able to initiate and target preventive actions, including PA promotion, to these symptomatic persons on time.