Scientific Reports · Oct 30, 2026
Longitudinal associations between specific exercise components and depressive symptoms in Chinese older women
By Ding L, Zhang W, Li W
Physical activity is associated with mental health outcomes in older adults. However, longitudinal evidence regarding specific exercise characteristics and depressive symptoms in older Chinese women remains limited. This study examined the associations between baseline exercise characteristics and subsequent depressive symptoms in community-dwelling older Chinese women. We conducted a prospective cohort study of 1094 community-dwelling older Chinese women. Exercise frequency, duration, intensity, and persistence were assessed at baseline (2019). Depressive symptoms were measured using the Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) at baseline and follow-up. Analysis of covariance was used to examine the associations between baseline exercise characteristics and follow-up SDS after adjustment for baseline SDS and demographic and health-related covariates. In the present study, higher exercise frequency at baseline was significantly associated with lower follow-up SDS scores after adjustment for baseline SDS and potential confounders ( p value < 0.001). Among participants who reported exercising at baseline (n = 637), longer exercise duration and longer exercise persistence were also associated with lower follow-up SDS scores; however, these associations were attenuated and were no longer statistically significant after additional adjustment for exercise frequency. No significant association was observed for exercise intensity. In conclusion, higher baseline exercise frequency was associated with lower depressive symptom scores at follow-up among older Chinese women. Although longer exercise duration and exercise persistence were associated with lower follow-up SDS scores among participants who exercised at baseline, these associations were not independent of exercise frequency. These findings should be interpreted as associations between baseline exercise behaviors and subsequent depressive symptoms.