Can Exercise Reduce Depression? A Review of Six Articles

This report synthesizes six articles examining the correlation between exercise and depression, addressing the research question: "Can exercise reduce the likelihood of depression?" The articles, including cross-sectional studies, surveys, and randomized controlled trials, investigate the impact of exercise on depressive symptoms across various populations, including general adults, college students, adults with depression, individuals with spinal cord injuries, and those with type 2 diabetes. The findings suggest that exercise, particularly aerobic activities, can reduce depression by increasing the release of endorphins, serotonin, and dopamine, thereby improving cognitive functioning and mood. The report also highlights limitations such as self-reported data biases and the need for comparisons with antidepressants. Overall, the research suggests that mild to moderate exercise can be an effective intervention for reducing symptoms of depression, providing health professionals with a roadmap for considering exercise as a treatment option and opening avenues for future research.

Running head: DEPRESSION
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Name of the student:
Name of the university:
Author note:

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Introduction:
With the global burden of disease, mental health issue has emerged as the leading cause
of premature mortality around the globe, the United States is no exception to it (Patten et al.,
2018). Therefore, this paper aims to provide a summary of six articles based on the research
question that was designed for guiding the research. The guiding research question in this
context would be “Can exercise reduce the likelihood of depression?” The rationale behind
choosing this research question is that 1 out 5 individuals U.S. adults experience mental
illness each year, especially depression (Neufeld et al., 2020). One in 6 youths aged 6 to 17
years’ experience depression in the US that impacted their quality of life. Mild to moderate
exercise reduces depression by improving cognitive functioning and self-esteem.
Discussion:
First article:
Chekroud et al. (2018), directed a cross-sectional study where data from Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention Behavioral Risk Factors Surveillance System survey (2011-
2015) of 1 237194 individuals aged 18 years in United States were analyzed. The researchers
linked the bad mental health between persons involved in the exercise and individuals did not
involve in the exercise. The type of exercise and frequency was also recorded using the
regression method. The findings of the research suggested that physical activity is associated
with lower depressive symptoms due to the fact that exercise increases the release of β-
endorphins hormone. Moreover, exercise induces an availability of brain neurotransmitters such
as norepinephrine, serotonin and dopamine that can reduce depression and improve mood.
Therefore, aerobic exercises for 45 minutes between 3 to 5 times a weeks are associated with

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improve mental health as it reduces stress by increasing secretion of neurotransmitter. Mindful
exercises such as yoga, tai chi and walking are also effective interventions that can reduce mild
to moderate depression. However, the limitation of the study is that self-reported data of the
participants that contributed to biases of the result as personal biases are present during self-
assessment.
Second article:
Wolf and Rosenstock (2017) conducted an online survey in Fall 2012 and Winter 2013
on the college students of University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh regarding the
relationship of inadequate sleep, inadequate exercise and depression. The response rate of the
survey was 28.7% for freshman year and 22.6% for the middle school years. The findings of the
result suggested that decreased exercise frequency along with sleep are associated with limited
professional efficacy. On the other hand, students who sleep more than 7 hours and involved in
physicals activities more likely to have reduced symptoms of depression and improved academic
performance. Aerobic exercises with adequate intensity and adequate sleep more likely to
improve cognitive functioning, facilitate the secretion of the endorphin and neurotransmitter
dopamine. Endorphin facilitate mood by increasing the dopamine production, accounting for
improving mood. In this context, it improves the mental health of the students and improves their
academic performance and critical thinking. The limitation of the study was the low response
rate of the survey negatively impacted the quality of the result. Comprehensive primary study
such as randomized controlled trial is required to conduct for obtaining accurate correlation.
Third article:
Lavebratt et al. (2017), conducted a randomized control trail on 116 depressed adults in
order to assess the impact of exercise on the depressed adult. A total 116 Participants were

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invited to complete three 60-min exercise sessions weekly where follow up week was 12 weeks.
After follow up, the blood samples of the participants were provided at baseline along with post-
intervention overnight fasting. Both the samples were analyzed for serum levels of IL-6 by using
immunological process ELISA. The result of the study suggested that IL6 level is associated
with depression since depressive thought process increases pro-inflammatory cytokines IL6 level
followed by a sense of pain. However, exercise has an anti-inflammatory effect since exercise on
the daily basis reduce IL6 level in the body by blocking IL-6 receptor in the periphery.
Therefore, the blood IL6 level rapidly reduced after involving in the exercise. The researchers
suggested after follow up, 105 adults exhibit low level of IL6, indicating that exercise can reduce
depression. The limitation of the study is that no comparison with the anti-depressants were
incorporated in this case for assessing amount of effectiveness. For improving the study result,
the comparison of exercise and anti-depressants are required to draw in this case so that
comprehensive result can be obtained.
Fourth article:
VanDerwerker et al. (2020), conducted a longitudinal community study on 2,368
community dwellers aged 75 years who were suffering from a major depressive disorder and
experienced Spinal Cord Injury. Patient Health Questionnaire-9 was used in order to assess
depressive symptoms amongst the community dwellers aged 75 years. Participant’s self-reported
frequency of doing planned exercise was recorded in order to assess the correlation between
depression and exercise. The findings of the research suggested that there is limited evidence
observed between major depressive disorder and exercise or physical activity amongst patients
with spinal cord injury. In neurologically healthy individuals, exercise positively impacts

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depressive symptoms by acting on the central nervous system and increasing the rapid
production of endorphin. Consequently, endorphin increase the motivation, distraction from
negative thoughts and reduce depression. However, there is limited evidence regarding the
association between exercise behaviors as well as depression after spinal cord injury since it
affected central nervous system. Limited to no improvement also observed. The limitation of
the study is that it limited data regarding small sample size. The second limitation of the study
self-reported data of the participants that contributed to the biases of the result as personal biases
are present during self-assessment.
Fifth article:
Ivanova et al. (2017), conducted a longitudinal investigation of Anxiety as well as
Depressive and Exercise Behavior Amongst community dwellers suffering from Type 2 Diabetes
Mellitus. The researchers studied 1691 adults who were suffering from type 2 diabetes and
provided baseline measures along with 2 subsequent annual assessment. Patient Health
Questionnaire-9 and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 were used in order to assess clinical
manifestations of depression and anxiety amongst the community dweller. The result of the study
suggested that symptoms of anxiety, as well as depression, would intensify amongst the
community dwellers due to low exercise frequency. Similarly, individuals who are involved in
high exercise frequency would exhibit a decrease in greater symptoms of anxiety or depression.
Involving in the physical activity facilitates the releases of chemicals such as endorphin and
serotonin that improve mood and cognitive function amongst community dwellers. Since
community dwellers experience depression due to diabetes, exercise facilitates insulin sensitivity
amongst community dwellers with type two diabetes and reduce depression. However, this is
also limited evidence observed for the patients. Therefore, exercise can be provided to the

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community dweller for improving quality of life by reducing depressive symptoms and
improving sensitivity. The limitation of the study is a longitudinal study with limited evidence.
Sixth article:
Soucy et al (2017), directed a randomized control trial that compared the effectiveness of
two guided self-management interventions in order to treat depression such as behavioral
activation as well as physical activity. 59 participants with symptoms of depression were
randomly assigned to intervention groups such as either to a behavioral activation intervention (n
= 20) or a physical activity intervention (n = 19). The control group of 20 individuals with
depressive symptoms were also developed. The result of the study suggested that physical
activity as well behavioral activation both interventions efficiently reduce depressive symptoms
as both interventions increases endorphin production in the body and provide distraction from
the negative thought process experienced by the depressed individuals. Therefore, behavioral
activation and exercise both reduce depressive symptoms by improving mood and replacing
negative thought process. The limitation of the study is a confounder.
Conclusion:
On a concluding note, it can be said that Mild to moderate exercise reduces depression by
improving cognitive functioning, releasing endorphins and serotonin. Therefore, this research
will provide health professionals with a road map for considering exercise as an intervention to
reduce symptoms of depression. It will open an avenue for future research based on effectiveness
of exercise in reducing depression.

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References:
Chekroud, S. R., Gueorguieva, R., Zheutlin, A. B., Paulus, M., Krumholz, H. M., Krystal, J. H.,
& Chekroud, A. M. (2018). Association between physical exercise and mental health in
1· 2 million individuals in the USA between 2011 and 2015: a cross-sectional study. The
Lancet Psychiatry, 5(9), 739-746.
Ivanova, E., Burns, R. J., Deschênes, S. S., Knäuper, B., & Schmitz, N. (2017). A longitudinal
investigation of anxiety and depressive symptomatology and exercise behaviour among
adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Canadian journal of diabetes, 41(1), 73-81.
Knoll, A. D., & MacLennan, R. N. (2017). Prevalence and correlates of depression in Canada:
Findings from the Canadian Community Health Survey. Canadian
Psychology/psychologie canadienne, 58(2), 116.
Lavebratt, C., Herring, M. P., Liu, J. J., Wei, Y. B., Bossoli, D., Hallgren, M., & Forsell, Y.
(2017). Interleukin-6 and depressive symptom severity in response to physical
exercise. Psychiatry Research, 252, 270-276.
Neufeld, E., Freeman, S., Spirgiene, L., & Horwath, U. (2020). A cross-sectoral comparison of
prevalence and predictors of symptoms of depression over time among older adults in
Ontario, Canada. Journal of geriatric psychiatry and neurology, 0891988720901790.
Patten, S. B., Williams, J. V., Lavorato, D. H., Wang, J. L., McDonald, K., & Bulloch, A. G.
(2016). Major depression in Canada: what has changed over the past 10 years?. The
Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 61(2), 80-85.

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Soucy, I., Provencher, M., Fortier, M., & McFadden, T. (2017). Efficacy of guided self-help
behavioural activation and physical activity for depression: a randomized controlled
trial. Cognitive behaviour therapy, 46(6), 493-506.
VanDerwerker, C. J., Cao, Y., Gregory, C. M., & Krause, J. S. (2020). Associations between
doing planned exercise and probable major depressive disorder in individuals following
spinal cord injury. Topics in spinal cord injury rehabilitation, 26(1), 11-20.
Wolf, M. R., & Rosenstock, J. B. (2017). Inadequate sleep and exercise associated with burnout
and depression among medical students. Academic psychiatry, 41(2), 174-179.