Residential environment, physical activity and depressive symptoms in adults

Abstract

Depression is, at its worst, a fatal disease and a significant factor threatening work ability. Recent studies have suggested physical activity as an effective treatment for depression. Scientific evidence on the beneficial association between physical activity and depressive symptoms is strong. Recently, studies have also highlighted the residential environment’s importance for both mental health and physical activity. Due to accelerating urbanisation, it is increasingly important to understand how our living environment affects our physical movement behaviour and mental health.

This study’s aims were to I) compare the prevalence of depression symptoms in different countries, II) investigate how characteristics of the residential environment and physical activity are associated with depressive symptoms, and III) study how 24-hour movement behaviours (physical activity, sedentary time and sleep) are associated with depressive symptoms in urban and rural residents. The main data for the study were collected from individuals born in Northern Finland in 1966 when they were 46 years old (n=5,860). In addition, the first substudy utilised previously published research articles to compare the prevalence of depressive symptoms between different countries. The characteristics of the residential environment, based on the participants’ home coordinates, were examined using geographic information system methods. Physical activity was measured using both a questionnaire and accelerometer-based activity monitors that the participants wore for 2 weeks. Depressive symptoms were assessed in all studies based on the second version of the Beck Depression Inventory.

The results indicated that depressive symptoms vary between countries. Higher urbanicity and population density of the residential environment were associated with a higher odds of more severe depressive symptoms, while higher greenness was associated with a lower odds of severe depressive symptoms. More time spent in moderate to vigorous physical activity or sleep at the expense of light activity or sedentary behaviour within a 24-hour day was associated with lower depressive symptoms in those living in rural areas. According to this study’s results, preserving and increasing green spaces in urban planning and taking into account all the movement behaviours of the 24-hour day, for example in health care and physical activity recommendations, could be ways to decrease depressive symptoms at the population level. It is also important to consider the differences in movement behaviours between those living in urban and rural areas. Future research in longitudinal settings is needed to confirm causal relationships, in particular, between residential environment and depressive symptoms.