Depressive symptoms and PA were assessed in a population sample of adolescents (N = 2,230) who were measured at three waves between age 10 and age 17. Depressive symptoms were measured by the Affective Problems scale of the Youth Self-Report and Child Behavior Checklist, whereas PA was operationalized as the amount of time spent on physical exercise. Structural equation modeling was used to examine bidirectional effects of PA and depressive symptoms over time.
We found significant cross-lagged paths from prior PA to later depression as well as from prior depression to later PA (beta values = 鈭?039 to 鈭?047). After subdividing depression into affective and somatic symptoms, the affective symptoms were reciprocally related to PA, whereas the paths between somatic symptoms and PA did not reach statistical significance.
An inverse bidirectional association between PA and general depressive symptoms was observed. This association was restricted to affective symptoms.