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Markers of stress and inflammation as potential mediators of the relationship between exercise and depressive symptoms: Findings from the TRAILS study
Author(s) -
Booij Sanne H.,
Bos Elisabeth H.,
Jonge Peter,
Oldehinkel Albertine J.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
psychophysiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.661
H-Index - 156
eISSN - 1469-8986
pISSN - 0048-5772
DOI - 10.1111/psyp.12329
Subject(s) - psychology , heart rate , depression (economics) , autonomic nervous system , psychoneuroimmunology , population , heart rate variability , antidepressant , depressive symptoms , medicine , physical exercise , inflammation , anxiety , clinical psychology , immune system , blood pressure , psychiatry , immunology , environmental health , economics , macroeconomics
The hypothalamic‐pituitary‐adrenal axis, autonomic nervous system, and immune system have been proposed to underlie the antidepressant effect of exercise. Using a population sample of 715 adolescents, we examined whether pathways from exercise to affective and somatic symptoms of depression were mediated by these putative mechanisms. Exercise (hours/week) and depressive symptoms were assessed at age 13.5 (± 0.5) and 16.1 (± 0.6). Cortisol and heart rate responses to a standardized social stress test and C ‐reactive protein levels were measured at age 16. Exercise was prospectively and inversely related to affective ( B = −0.16, 95% CI = −0.30 to −0.03) but not somatic symptoms ( B = −0.04, 95% CI = −0.21 to 0.13). Heart rate during social stress partially mediated this relationship ( B = −0.03, 95% CI = −0.07 to −0.01). No other mediating effects were found. Hence, the autonomic stress system may play a role in the relationship between exercise and depressive symptoms.