Physical activity characteristics and depressive symptoms in older Latino adults

BackgroundPhysical activity (PA) has been consistently associated with fewer depressive symptoms in observational and intervention studies. Emphasis on leisure-time PA, reliance on self report measures of PA, and lack of inclusion of racial/ethnic minority populations have contributed to uncertainty regarding the minimal and optimal dose (minutes/day), intensity (i.e., light, moderate, or vigorous), bout duration (i.e., incidental vs. 10-min bouts), and domain (i.e., leisure-time, occupational, and household) of PA for reducing and preventing depressive symptoms across diverse populations.PurposeTo investigate the relationship between PA characteristics (i.e., dose, intensity, bout duration, and domain) and depressive symptoms in older Latinos using both objective and subjective measures of PA.MethodsOlder Latinos (n = 174) completed questionnaires and wore accelerometers for seven days. Accelerometer output provided daily minutes of sedentary, light, and moderate-vigorous PA (MVPA) overall and in 10-min bouts. The Community Healthy Activity Model Program for Seniors (CHAMPS) questionnaire provided daily minutes of leisure-time PA, household PA, and sedentary activities. Hierarchical linear regression analysis was used to predict Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) score.ResultsAfter controlling for established correlates of depressive symptoms (i.e., demographics, acculturation, and health characteristics), MVPA in ≥10-min bouts independently predicted fewer depressive symptoms (β = ?.231, ΔR2 = .052, p ≤ .01) and household PA greater depressive symptoms (β = .263, ΔR2 = .056, p ≤ .001).ConclusionsResults suggest that PA intensity, bout duration, and domain influence the strength and direction of the relationship between PA and depressive symptoms in older Latino adults.