The Associations of Physical Activity and Health-Risk Behaviors toward Depressive Symptoms among College Students: Gender and Obesity Disparities

Samantha Moss, Xiaoxia Zhang, Ziyad Ben Taleb and Xiangli Gu ()
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Samantha Moss: Kinesiology Department, State University of New York at Cortland, Cortland, NY 13045, USA
Xiaoxia Zhang: School of Sport Sciences, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA
Ziyad Ben Taleb: Department of Kinesiology, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX 76019, USA
Xiangli Gu: Department of Kinesiology, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX 76019, USA

IJERPH, 2024, vol. 21, issue 4, 1-11

Abstract: Engaging in health-risk behaviors (HRBs) may be correlated with depressive symptoms among college students, but these relationships require more research. The purpose of this study was to examine the associations of physical activity levels (i.e., light [LPA] and moderate–vigorous [MVPA]) and HRBs (i.e., sedentary behavior [screen-based and non-screen-based behavior] and cigarette and e-cigarette tobacco use) with depressive symptoms in a sample of college students. Physical activity levels and HRBs were assessed through validated questionnaires. In total, 366 students participated (M age = 22.59 ± 3.54; 60.1% female; 52.9% normal weight). E-cigarette use in males (β = 0.23, p < 0.05) and screen-based sedentary behavior in females (β = 0.14, p < 0.05) showed significant predictive utility toward depressive symptoms. In the overweight/obese group, screen-based sedentary behaviors (β = 0.19, p < 0.05) and e-cigarette use (β = 0.23, p < 0.01) showed significant predictive utility toward depressive symptoms. Females reported higher levels of depressive symptoms (M female = 18.23 vs. M male = 14.81; η 2 = 0.03) and less MVPA (M male = 52.83 vs. M female = 41.09; η 2 = 0.06) than males. Enhancing mental health by improving physical activity and eliminating HRBs should be tailored toward at-risk demographics.

Keywords: depression; physical activity; health-risk behaviors; young adults; tobacco (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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