Personality, physical activity, and symptoms of anxiety and depression: the HUNT study
A Brunes, LB Augestad, SL Gudmundsdottir�- Social psychiatry and�…, 2013 - Springer
A Brunes, LB Augestad, SL Gudmundsdottir
Social psychiatry and psychiatric epidemiology, 2013•SpringerPurpose To analyze the association between physical activity (PA), symptoms of depression
and anxiety, and personality traits. Methods Cross-sectional study from a Norwegian
population-based survey conducted in the period 2006–2008. The sample consisted of a
total of 38,743 subjects aged≥ 19 years, 56.1% women and 43.9% men. Demographic
variables, PA, depression and anxiety (The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale), and
personality (Eysenck Personality Questionnaire) were assessed by self-reporting�…
and anxiety, and personality traits. Methods Cross-sectional study from a Norwegian
population-based survey conducted in the period 2006–2008. The sample consisted of a
total of 38,743 subjects aged≥ 19 years, 56.1% women and 43.9% men. Demographic
variables, PA, depression and anxiety (The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale), and
personality (Eysenck Personality Questionnaire) were assessed by self-reporting�…
Purpose
To analyze the association between physical activity (PA), symptoms of depression and anxiety, and personality traits.
Methods
Cross-sectional study from a Norwegian population-based survey conducted in the period 2006–2008. The sample consisted of a total of 38,743 subjects aged ≥19�years, 56.1�% women and 43.9�% men. Demographic variables, PA, depression and anxiety (The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale), and personality (Eysenck Personality Questionnaire) were assessed by self-reporting measurements.
Results
Individuals who reported moderate and high PA had significantly lower scores on depression and anxiety compared with less physically active individuals (p�<�0.05). Significantly lower risk of HADS-defined depression and anxiety was associated with frequency, duration, and intensity of activity among women (p�<�0.05), and significantly lower risk of HADS-defined depression was associated with frequency, duration, and intensity of activity among men (p�<�0.05). There was a significant linear trend between extroversion and levels of PA (p�<�0.01) and between neuroticism and PA (p�<�0.01).
Conclusions
Subjects reporting regular leisure-time PA were less likely to report symptoms of HADS-defined depression and anxiety. Personality may be an underlying factor in explaining this association.
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