The Relationships of the Physical Activity, Depression and Executive Function among the Middle Age Adults

• Main Authors: Zeng, Jia Jyun, 曾家君
• Other Authors: Liu, Suyen
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2012
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/02152265858991499956

碩士 === 國立中正大學 === 運動與休閒教育研究所 === 100 === Relevant studies have indicated that there are higher prevalence on depression symptom and degenerated executive function among the middle age adults.Previous studies have shown that exercise could improve the symptom and executive function for the middle age adults. Purposes: 1. to compare the severity of depression symptom of middle age adults according to their physical activity level. 2. to compare the performance on sorting, conception formation, planning, organization, cognitive-shifiting of middle age adults according to their physical activity level. 3. to compare the performance on proceeding speed and inhibition ability of middle age adults according to their physical activity level. 4. to examine depression symptom whether it is a moderator which affects between physical activity and executive function among the middle age adults. Methods: After filling the consent form and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) to exclude dementia, sixty participants whose ages are between 50 and 65 years old were investigated their physical activity level by International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), depression symptom by Center of Epidemiological Study – Depression (CES-D), and executive function by Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) and Stroop test. Analysis: 1. Descriptive statistics was used to establish demographical information. 2. One-way ANOVA was employed to analyze the physical activity of middle age adults on the severity of depression symptom and executive function. 3. One-way MANOVA was employed to analyze the physical activity of middle age adults on the severity of depression symptom and executive function. 4. Path analysis was performed and examined whether depression symptom is a moderator which affects the cognition among the middle age adults. Results: First, the high physical activity of middle age adults had less depression symptom and better performance on executive function WCST TA, TE, NE, CC, PR, PE, TC1stC, CLR and Stroop SW. Second, depression symptom is a moderator which affects the cognition among the middle age adults. Conclusion: The middle age adults who has the higher physical activity level has less depression symptom and better performance on executive(WCST, Stroop test) which indicates that physical activity has a positive association with executive function and a negative association with depression symptom.