Comparative Analysis: Depression and Exercise in Women (Sociology)

This sociology essay provides a comparative analysis of two research articles exploring the impact of exercise on depression, focusing specifically on female participants. The essay begins with an introduction to depression, highlighting its prevalence and connection to societal factors and public health concerns. It then presents the thesis statement, which argues with the comparative analysis of the factors of depression and exercise in light of two research articles. The assignment reviews two studies: one by Chu et al. (2009) on exercise intensity and depressive symptoms, and another by Hemat-Far, Shahsavari & Mousavi (2012) on aerobic exercises and plasma serotonin levels. The essay compares the methodologies, findings, and similarities between the two articles, including their use of the Beck Depression Inventory. The differences in research design, data analysis, and the depth of discussion are also highlighted. The conclusion summarizes the findings, emphasizing the potential benefits of aerobic exercise in managing depressive symptoms and the suitability of the research methods employed. The essay concludes by emphasizing that both the studies showcase the probable impact of aerobic exercises on the symptoms of depression among women, specifically under the age group of 30.

Running Head: SOCIOLOGY
SOCIOLOGY
Name of the University
Name of the course
Author Note

SOCIOLOGY 1
Introduction
Depression is the disorder of mood, which is generally characterized by severe to the
mild rate of anxiety, the feeling of worthlessness and failure. According to the research studies,
due to the current price of the economic crisis and the rapid societal changes promoting nuclear
households and excessive speed of individualism, the prevalence of the massive scale of
depression has increased dramatically. Depression has been strongly connected to suicide
attempts and annoying it as a significant threat towards public health. According to the data by
the World Health Organization, depression has been the second most prevalent concern related to
health towards the societal, economic burden. The thesis statement of the essay argues with the
comparative analysis of the factors of depression and exercise in light of two research articles.
Both the study that has been considered for the review of the assignment includes a research
study over female candidates regarding the impact of exercise over symptoms of depression.
Article A; Chu et al., (2009), in their study, highlighted the research over the positive effects of
use on depressive symptoms; published in the journal of 'Mental Health and Physical Activity'.
While Article B; Hemat-Far, Shahsavari & Mousavi, (2012) in their research study investigated
over depression and the concentration of plasma serotonin among the depressed female students
who are being affected by the aerobic exercises.
Similarities between Article A and Article B
This section of the assignment will illustrate the comparative analysis among the two
articles of debate. It will explain the similarities projected in the report. In the research Article A,
“Effect of exercise intensity on depressive symptoms in women", the authors of the study
illustrated that exercise has been shown towards relieving the symptoms of depression, but the

SOCIOLOGY 2
optimal exercise intensity towards the treatment of depression has yet not been established. The
mechanism explaining the antidepressant impact of exercise furthermore required some of the
investigations. The authors of the study tested the effect of two various exercise intensities that
are prescribed for the aerobic training over the depressive symptoms and also the psychological
mechanisms for the impact of self-efficacy. The strength of the research study has been the
analysis on the basis of the Beck Depression Inventory-II that were randomized to one of the two
training groups differentiating on exercise intensity. The primary outcome variable of this
research included the symptoms of depression and self-efficacy which is similar to Article B.
The research study, Article B by Hemat-Far, Shahsavari & Mousavi, (2012), also selected
female students having moderate levels of depression by the use of Beck Depression Inventory
and then divided into two of random and experimental groups. The strength of the research study
is that the measurement of plasma serotonin was being done with the experiment group that was
affected by the aerobic exercise. The study variable within the research study was being
measured nighty six hours after the final exercise session. It also showcased that the levels of
depression significantly decreased within the group of experiment. The point of similarity of
Article B with Article A is that the observation of significant relationship among plasma
serotonin and depression. Both the studies that is the research articles focused on depression as
the most major mood disorders that highlight that neurotransmitters have an as essential role in
pathophysiology.
Differences between Article A and Article B
This section will explain the differences among both the research study in discussion
within the assignment. The study, Article A, “Effect of exercise intensity on depressive
symptoms in women” by Chu et al., (2009) carried out their research in the qualitative research

SOCIOLOGY 3
method and research design. The studies were carried out within the group of women for testing
the impact of exercise that was prescribed for aerobic training over the symptoms of depression
and the psychological mechanism for the effect of self-efficacy. The data for this study were
analysed over sedentary women who scored ≥14 as per the scale of Beck Depression Inventory-
II that were randomized over one to two aerobic training groups which different over the
intensity of exercise. Article B; Hemat-Far, Shahsavari & Mousavi, (2012), in their study, carried
out their research study as a quasi-experimental one. The population consisted of female students
within the age range of 18 to 25 years. More than five persons randomly completed the Beck
Depression Inventory within the statistical community. Article B furthermore included the use of
personnel information questionnaire that included age, weight, marital status, sports and medical
records for the subjects. The research study determined towards interactive effects of eight weeks
selected aerobic exercises over the depression levels and serotonin hormone secretion as some of
the major factors that control the element of depression among depressed female students. While
comparing both the research study, Article A and B on the basis of their research methodology
procedure, the study that is Article B by Hemat-Far, Shahsavari & Mousavi, (2012) used the
standard system of quasi-experimental and questionnaire method for collection of the data. The
research study used a quantitative research method together with details of the previously
proposed psychological mechanism on the basis of Black depression Inventory-II. The results of
the research study of the Article A that is the “Effect of exercise intensity on depressive
symptoms in women” by Chu et al., (2009) were not thoroughly discussed while the result and
the analysis shown in Article B “Effects of Selected Aerobic Exercises on the Depression and
Concentrations of Plasma Serotonin in the Depressed Female Students Aged 18 to 25” were
detailed and precise.

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Conclusion
Thus it can be concluded from above that both the article achieved to showcase the
probable impact of aerobic exercises on the symptoms of depression among women, specifically
under the age group of 30. The methods used by the researchers in “Effects of Selected Aerobic
Exercises on the Depression and Concentrations of Plasma Serotonin in the Depressed Female
Students Aged 18 to 25” were suitable for the study since it was quasi-experimental with the
inclusion of all the demographic factors that are required for the correct collection and analysis
of the data gathered. It can furthermore be highlighted that both the study aerobic exercise which
do have high intensity is useful for the development of the strategy for curing the depressed
students and making their behaviour natural.

SOCIOLOGY 5
References
Chu, I. H., Buckworth, J., Kirby, T. E., & Emery, C. F. (2009). Effect of exercise intensity on
depressive symptoms in women. Mental Health and Physical Activity, 2(1), 37-
43.Available at :
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/238507333_Effect_of_exercise_intensity_on_d
epressive_symptoms_in_women
Hemat-Far, A., Shahsavari, A., & Mousavi, S. R. (2012). Effects of Selected Aerobic Exercises
on the Depression and Concentrations of Plasma Serotonin in the Depressed Female
Students Aged 18 to 25. Journal of Applied Research, 12(1). Available at :
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/230792679_Effects_of_Selected_Aerobic_Exer
cises_on_the_Depression_and_Concentrations_of_Plasma_Serotonin_in_the_Depressed_
Female_Students_Aged_18_to_25