Sedentary behavior and depressive symptoms among 67,077 adolescents aged 12–15 years from 30 low- and middle-income countries

Abstract Background Depression is common and burdensome in adolescents. Understanding modifiable environmental risk factors is essential. There is evidence that physical activity is protective of depression. However, the impact of sedentary behavior (SB) on depression is relatively under-researched...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Davy Vancampfort, Brendon Stubbs, Joseph Firth, Tine Van Damme, Ai Koyanagi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2018-08-01
Series:International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity
Subjects:
Online Access:http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12966-018-0708-y
id doaj-191ca3461b7042d1a2a0424857abe104
record_format Article
spelling doaj-191ca3461b7042d1a2a0424857abe1042020-11-25T02:42:47ZengBMCInternational Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity1479-58682018-08-011511910.1186/s12966-018-0708-ySedentary behavior and depressive symptoms among 67,077 adolescents aged 12–15 years from 30 low- and middle-income countriesDavy Vancampfort0Brendon Stubbs1Joseph Firth2Tine Van Damme3Ai Koyanagi4KU Leuven Department of Rehabilitation SciencesPhysiotherapy Department, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation TrustNICM Health Research Institute, School of Science and Health, University of Western SydneyKU Leuven Department of Rehabilitation SciencesResearch and Development Unit, Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu, Universitat de Barcelona, Fundació Sant Joan de DéuAbstract Background Depression is common and burdensome in adolescents. Understanding modifiable environmental risk factors is essential. There is evidence that physical activity is protective of depression. However, the impact of sedentary behavior (SB) on depression is relatively under-researched especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). In this cross-sectional study, we explored the association between SB and depressive symptoms in adolescents from 30 LMICs, controlling for confounders including physical activity. Method Data from the Global school-based Student Health Survey were analyzed in 67,077 adolescents [mean (SD) age 13.8 (0.9) years; 50.6% girls). Self-report measures assessed depressive symptoms during the past 12 months, and SB, which was a composite variable assessing time spent sitting and watching television, playing computer games, talking with friends during a typical day excluding the hours spent sitting at school and doing homework. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was conducted and a countrywide meta-analysis undertaken. Results The prevalence of depressive symptoms and ≥ 3 h/day of SB were 28.7 and 30.6%, respectively. There was a linear increase in the prevalence of depressive symptoms with increasing sedentary time beyond ≥3 h/day (vs. < 1 h/day). Among boys, 1–2 h/day of SB was associated with lower odds for depression (vs. < 1 h/day). Countrywide meta-analysis demonstrated that spending ≥3 h/day versus < 3 h/day was associated with a 20% increased odds for depressive symptoms (OR = 1.20; 95% CI = 1.16–1.24) with low between-country heterogeneity (I 2  = 27.6%). Conclusion Our data indicate that being sedentary for ≥3 h/day is associated with increased odds for depressive symptoms in adolescence. Future longitudinal data are required to confirm/refute the findings to inform public interventions which aim to limit the time spent being sedentary in adolescents.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12966-018-0708-ySedentary behaviorSittingPhysical activityDepressionAdolescents
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Davy Vancampfort
Brendon Stubbs
Joseph Firth
Tine Van Damme
Ai Koyanagi
spellingShingle Davy Vancampfort
Brendon Stubbs
Joseph Firth
Tine Van Damme
Ai Koyanagi
Sedentary behavior and depressive symptoms among 67,077 adolescents aged 12–15 years from 30 low- and middle-income countries
International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity
Sedentary behavior
Sitting
Physical activity
Depression
Adolescents
author_facet Davy Vancampfort
Brendon Stubbs
Joseph Firth
Tine Van Damme
Ai Koyanagi
author_sort Davy Vancampfort
title Sedentary behavior and depressive symptoms among 67,077 adolescents aged 12–15 years from 30 low- and middle-income countries
title_short Sedentary behavior and depressive symptoms among 67,077 adolescents aged 12–15 years from 30 low- and middle-income countries
title_full Sedentary behavior and depressive symptoms among 67,077 adolescents aged 12–15 years from 30 low- and middle-income countries
title_fullStr Sedentary behavior and depressive symptoms among 67,077 adolescents aged 12–15 years from 30 low- and middle-income countries
title_full_unstemmed Sedentary behavior and depressive symptoms among 67,077 adolescents aged 12–15 years from 30 low- and middle-income countries
title_sort sedentary behavior and depressive symptoms among 67,077 adolescents aged 12–15 years from 30 low- and middle-income countries
publisher BMC
series International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity
issn 1479-5868
publishDate 2018-08-01
description Abstract Background Depression is common and burdensome in adolescents. Understanding modifiable environmental risk factors is essential. There is evidence that physical activity is protective of depression. However, the impact of sedentary behavior (SB) on depression is relatively under-researched especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). In this cross-sectional study, we explored the association between SB and depressive symptoms in adolescents from 30 LMICs, controlling for confounders including physical activity. Method Data from the Global school-based Student Health Survey were analyzed in 67,077 adolescents [mean (SD) age 13.8 (0.9) years; 50.6% girls). Self-report measures assessed depressive symptoms during the past 12 months, and SB, which was a composite variable assessing time spent sitting and watching television, playing computer games, talking with friends during a typical day excluding the hours spent sitting at school and doing homework. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was conducted and a countrywide meta-analysis undertaken. Results The prevalence of depressive symptoms and ≥ 3 h/day of SB were 28.7 and 30.6%, respectively. There was a linear increase in the prevalence of depressive symptoms with increasing sedentary time beyond ≥3 h/day (vs. < 1 h/day). Among boys, 1–2 h/day of SB was associated with lower odds for depression (vs. < 1 h/day). Countrywide meta-analysis demonstrated that spending ≥3 h/day versus < 3 h/day was associated with a 20% increased odds for depressive symptoms (OR = 1.20; 95% CI = 1.16–1.24) with low between-country heterogeneity (I 2  = 27.6%). Conclusion Our data indicate that being sedentary for ≥3 h/day is associated with increased odds for depressive symptoms in adolescence. Future longitudinal data are required to confirm/refute the findings to inform public interventions which aim to limit the time spent being sedentary in adolescents.
topic Sedentary behavior
Sitting
Physical activity
Depression
Adolescents
url http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12966-018-0708-y
work_keys_str_mv AT davyvancampfort sedentarybehavioranddepressivesymptomsamong67077adolescentsaged1215yearsfrom30lowandmiddleincomecountries
AT brendonstubbs sedentarybehavioranddepressivesymptomsamong67077adolescentsaged1215yearsfrom30lowandmiddleincomecountries
AT josephfirth sedentarybehavioranddepressivesymptomsamong67077adolescentsaged1215yearsfrom30lowandmiddleincomecountries
AT tinevandamme sedentarybehavioranddepressivesymptomsamong67077adolescentsaged1215yearsfrom30lowandmiddleincomecountries
AT aikoyanagi sedentarybehavioranddepressivesymptomsamong67077adolescentsaged1215yearsfrom30lowandmiddleincomecountries
_version_ 1724771496496201728