Exercise benefits on late-life depression differ across nations
A preprint finds physical activity protected against depressive symptoms in US older adults (β = −2.734), but effects varied by education and living arrangements across countries.
Research Square
Older adults in China and the United States showed differing mental health responses to physical activity over time, according to a preprint on Research Square. Researchers examined data from two large, nationally representative panels: the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study and the US Health and Retirement Study. The team constructed an analytical framework combining individual fixed effects, inverse probability weighting, and cross-lagged panel models to track depressive symptoms longitudinally. Cross-national models revealed a clear asymmetry between the two countries. Educational attainment and living arrangements substantially moderated and constrained the protective influence of exercise. Older adults in the US sample experienced a robust protective effect on mental health (β = −2.734), highlighting how national context shapes late-life mental health outcomes.
Why it matters
Late-life depression poses a growing challenge for public health systems as global populations age. Clarifying how socioeconomic environments interact with physical activity can guide targeted interventions to protect psychological well-being in older adults.
Caveats
This paper is a preprint and has not yet been certified by peer review. The findings are based on observational survey data rather than randomized controlled trials.
The paper
Capital University of Physical Education and Sports
Research Square · 1 Oct 2026 · Preprint, not peer-reviewed