Higher daily steps may alleviate depression in adults

Higher daily step count is associated with fewer depressive symptoms in the general adult population, according to the results of a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Researchers searched multiple online databases for observational studies in which depression was assessed in relation to measures of daily steps. They followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses and Meta-analysis of Observational Studies in Epidemiology reporting guidelines.

A total of 33 studies, of which 27 were cross-sectional and six were longitudinal, involving 96,173 adults (range of mean ages, 18.6 to 91.2 years) met the eligibility criteria and were included in the meta-analysis.

Pooled data showed an inverse association with daily steps and depressive symptoms in both cross-sectional and panel studies. Compared with adults who had <5,000 steps/day, those with higher daily step count had fewer depressive symptoms (≥10,000 steps/day: standardized mean difference [SMD], −0.26, 95 percent confidence interval [CI], −0.38 to −0.14; 7,500–9,999 steps/day: SMD, −0.27, 95 percent CI, −0.43 to −0.11; 5,000–7,499 steps/day: SMD, −0.17, 95 percent CI, −0.30 to −0.04).

Pooled estimates from prospective cohort studies further indicated the risk of depression was lower among participants with ≥7,000 steps/day than those with <7,000 steps/day (risk ratio [RR], 0.69, 95 percent CI, 0.62–0.77). An additional 1,000 steps/day was also protective against the risk of depression (RR, 0.91, 95 percent CI, 0.87–0.94).

Additional studies are needed to establish the protective role of daily steps in mitigating the risk of depression during adulthood, according to the researchers.