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Table 1 Characteristics of cross-sectional and longitudinal studies grouped by age groups

From: Light-intensity physical activity and mental ill health: a systematic review of observational studies in the general population

Author Year [ref]

Design

Country

Participants sample size follow-up time

Measurement and operationalization of LIPA

Outcomes

Statistical analysis and effect size [95%CI]

Adjustment

Main findings

Quality score (%)

Loprinzi 2013 [29]

CS

US

Older adults (42.8% women; mean age = 73.5 years) n = 708

Accelerometry

100–2019 counts/min

Depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-9)

[Score of ≥ 9 indicating depression]

Logistic regression

Per 60 min increase OR = 0.80 [0.67, 0.95] p = 0.01

Age, gender, race-ethnicity, BMI, marital status, education, comorbidity index, physical functioning

LIPA was significantly associated with lower odds for depression.

90.9

Varma et al. 2014 [30]

CS

US

Older adults (76.5% women; mean age = 66.8 years) n = 187

Step Watch Activity Monitor

 < 100 steps/min

Depressive symptoms (Geriatric Depression Scale)

Linear regression

Per 1000 steps increase:

β = -0.09 [-0.17, -0.01]

Per 10 min increase:

β = -0.02 [-0.05, -0.00]

Number of bouts of 10 min activity): β = -0.04 [-0.07, -0.00]

Age, gender, race

Greater amount, frequency, and duration of LIPA were significantly associated with fewer depressive symptoms.

68.2

Yasunaga et al. 2018 [31]

CS

Japan

Older adults (38.0% women; mean age = 74.4 years) n = 276

Accelerometry

METs > 1.5 to < 3.0

Depressive symptoms (Japanese version of the 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale)

Linear regression

Per 30 min increase β = -0.030 (-0.184, 0.124)

Isotemporal substitution model

β = -0.131 [-0.260, -0.002]

Gender, age, BMI, physical function, marital status, educational attainment, MVPA, sedentary behavior

LIPA (min/day) was not significantly associated with depression score

Replacing 30 min per day of SB with the same amount of LIPA was significantly associated with lower depression score.

95.5

Ku et al. 2018 [45]

LG

Taiwan

Older adults (54.4%; mean age = 74.5 years) n = 274

2 years

Accelerometry

100–1951 counts/min

Depressive symptoms (15-item Geriatric Depression Scale)

Linear regression

RR = 0.67 [0.51, 0.88], p = 0.004

Sex, age, income source, drinking, number of diseases, insomnia, ADL difficulty, cognitive impairment, accelerometer wearing time, baseline depressive symptoms, MVPA

Participants who spent more time in LIPA had significantly fewer depressive symptoms at follow-up, independently of MVPA.

95.5

Uemura et al. 2017 [46]

LG

Japan

Older adults (49.1% female; mean age = 71.5 years) n = 3,106

15 months

Self-reported unvalidated questionnaire (dichotomous variable)

Depression (15-item Geriatric Depression Scale)

[Score of ≥ 6 indicating presence of depressive symptoms]

Logistic regressions

Light exercise OR = 0.74 [0.56, 0.98]

Walking habits

OR = 0.76 [0.57, 1.01]

Age, gender, education, current smoking status, alcohol consumption, living status, self‐rated health, Mini‐Mental State Examination, Short Physical Performance Battery, medications, Geriatric Depression Scale at baseline

Engagement in light physical exercise but not walking was associated with significantly lower risk of depressive symptoms.

90.9

Ribeiro et al. 2017 [47]

LG

US

Older African Americans (65.1% female; mean age = 66.1 years) n = 582

9 years

Self-reported

Yale Physical Activity Survey

Depression (11-item version of the Center for Epidemiological Studies- Depression)

Logistic regression (Results not reported)

PA components (vigorous activity, leisure walking, moving, standing, and sitting), vegetable and fruit intake, age, gender, perceived income adequacy, years of formal education

Moving was not significantly associated with depression.

84.4

Rethorst et al. 2017 [32]

CS

US

Hispanic/Latino community (female 52.1%; mean age = 41.1 years) n = 11,116

Accelerometry

100–1534 counts/min

Depressive symptoms (Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale 10)

Linear regression

β = 0.117 [-0.003, 0.237] p = 0.055

Isotemporal substitution model

β = 0.003 [-0.011, 0.113] p = 0.955

Age, sex, Hispanic background group, BMI, household income level, education, recruitment site, physical health, general familial social support, acculturation, other PA intensities

LIPA (min/day) was not significantly associated with less depressive symptoms. Substitution of 1 h of SB with LIPA did not result in a significant decrease in depressive symptoms.

95.5

Asztalos et al. 2010 [33]

CS

Belgium

Healthy adults (50.5% women; age 25–64 years) n = 6,803

Self-reported

International Physical Activity Questionnaire

[Dichotomized around 120 min/week]

Depression and anxiety (Symptom CheckList-90-Revised)

[Mean score of ≥ 2 indicating depression or anxiety]

Logistic regression

Men (depression)

OR = 0.863 [0.631, 1.180]

Men (anxiety)

OR = 0.918 [0.644, 1.310]

Women (depression)

OR = 0.880 [0.700, 1.106]

Women (anxiety)

OR = 0.937 [0.723, 1.214]

Age, socioeconomic status

LIPA was not significantly associated with anxiety and depression in women and men.

86.4

Dillon et al. 2018 [34]

CS

Ireland

Adults (53.9% female; mean age = 59.6 years) n = 397

Accelerometry dominant wrist = 191.8–281.5 counts/min

non-dominant wrist = 159.5–261.8 counts/min

-Depression (Centre for Epidemiologic Studies Depression)

-Anxiety (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale)

Isotemporal substitution models

Anxiety: β =  − 0.34 [-0.64, -0.04]

Depression: β = -0.63 [-1.51, 0.26]

Age, gender, season, marital status, smoking status, alcohol consumption, BMI status, education

Substituting 30 min of SB for LIPA per day was associated with a significant decrease in levels of anxiety but not depression.

86.4

Poole et al. 2011 [35]

CS

UK

Staff and student females (100% women; mean age = 28.7 years) n = 40

Accelerometry

191–573 counts/min

Depressive symptoms (Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale)

Pearson correlations

r = -0.35 p < 0.05

None

Accelerometry-measured LIPA (min/day) was significantly correlated with fewer depressive symptoms.

54.5

Mourady et al. 2017 [36]

CS

Lebanon

Healthy pregnant women (100% women; mean age = 30.5 years) n = 141

Self-reported Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire

-Depression (Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale)

Spearman correlations

Depression: r = -0.182. p = 0.031

None

Light PA (MET-hrs/week) has a significant inverse correlation with depression.

68.2

von Känel R et al. 2017 [37]

CS

South Africa

Adults (52.2%women; mean age = 49.8 years) n = 203

Actiheart

 > 1.5- < 3METs

Psychological distress (28-item General Health Questionnaire)

Partial correlations (Results not reported)

Age, gamma glutamyl transferase

Partial correlations did not show any associations between PA and psychological distress.

63.6

Hamer M et al. 2014 [38]

CS

UK

Adults (48.1–61.8% women; mean age = 48.3–50 years) n = 1,947

Accelerometry

200–2019 counts/min

in tertiles

Psychological distress (12-item version General Health Questionnaire)

[Score of ≥ 4 indicating psychological distress]

Logistic regression

Highest tertile vs lowest

OR = 0.73 [0.48, 1.12]

Middle vs lowest tertile

OR = 0.56 [0.37, 0.84]

Age, sex, accelerometry wear time, smoking, alcohol, education, BMI, social occupational group employment long-standing illness (non-mental), MVPA

LIPA was significantly associated with lower odds for psychological distress, independently of MVPA (although the association was not linear).

90.9

Sheikh et al. 2018 [48]

LG

Norway

Adults (54% female, mean age = 47.0 years) n = 10,325

13 years

Self-reported. Unvalidated questionnaire

[Categorical scale, none; less than 1; 1–2; 3 or more hrs/week]

Psychological distress (Hopkins symptom checklist, HSCL-10)

[Score of ≥ 18.5 indicating psychological distress]

Regression analysis (ordinary least square and relative risk)

β = 0.09 [-0.03, 0.22]

RR = 1.03 [0.95, 1.11]

Age, gender, history of parental psychopathology, childhood socioeconomic status, marital status, daily smoking, number of friends, perceived social isolation, education, MVPA

LIPA did not confer significant protection against psychological distress at follow-up after adjusting for MVPA.

90.9

Bernard et al. 2018 [39]

CS

Canada

Adults (50.3% women; mean age = 44 years) n = 8,150

Accelerometry

100 to 1534 counts/min

Overall mental health Single item question self-rated mental health

Generalized additive models

LIPA = Estimate 7.2. f = 3. p = 0.003

LIPA + MVPA = Estimate 24.4. f = 3.6. p < 0.001

LIPA + SB = Estimate 21.6. f = 2.5. p < 0.001

Age, sex, daily smoking, household income, education level, accelerometer wear time, season of accelerometer assessment, BMI, MVPA

A curvilinear relationship between daily mins of LIPA and mental health was found, with better mental health found in 400–550 average mins of daily LPA.

90.9

Felez-Nobrega et al. 2020 [40]

CS

Spain

College students (44% women; mean age = 20.8 years) n = 360 self-reported; n = 121 activPAL

Self-reported

International Physical Activity Questionnaire

[Tertile groups: T1 ≤ 3 h/week; T2 > 3 to ≤ 7 h/week; T3 > 7 h/week]

Accelerometry

%LIPAhrs/day based on time not spent standing, in MVPA or sedentary

-Perceived stress (Perceived Stress Scale)

-Anxiety (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory)

Linear regression

Self-reported LIPA:

State anxiety: T2 vs T1 B = -1.70 [-5, 1.97]; T3 vs T1 B = -2.24 [-5.52, 0,86]

Trait anxiety: T2 vs T1 B = -1,49 [-3.66, 0.90]; T3 vs T1 B = -1.47 [-3.51, 0.82]

Perceived stress: T2 vs T1 B = -1.59 [-3.62, 0.46]; T3 vs T1 B = -2.07 [-3.90, -0.06]

Partial correlation

activPAL LIPA weekday; weekend day:

State anxiety: r = 0.10, p = 0.69; r = -0.07, p = 0.51

Trait anxiety: r = -0.04, p = 0.64; r = -0.06, p = 0.54

Perceived stress: r = 0.04, p = 0.69; r = 0.07, p = 0.43

Age, gender

Self-reported LIPA was significantly associated with lower perceived stress but not with state-trait anxiety. No significant associations were found for device-based measures of LIPA (activPAL) with any of the mental health outcomes.

81.8

Tao et al. 2019 [41]

CS

China

College students (52.3% women; mean age = 20.3 years) n = 220

Accelerometry

Steps rate (steps/min) 20–99

Anxiety and depression (24-item Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System)

Pearson correlations

Anxiety r = -0.023 (N.S)

Depression r = 0.011 (N.S)

None

LIPA (min/day) was not significantly correlated with anxiety or depression.

72.7

Lee et al. 2013 [42]

CS

Hong Kong

Non exercising healthy adolescents and adults (59.7% women; mean age = 46.2 years) n = 2,417

Accelerometry

101–1951 counts/min

Depression (Patient Health Questionnaire 9)

[Score of ≥ 5 indicating depression (mild)]

Difference in mean z scores among those with and without depression

-0.10 [-0.20, 0.01]

Age, sex

LIPA (min/day) was not significantly associated with depression.

95.5

Costigan et al. 2019 [43]

CS

Australia

Healthy adolescents (44.9% girls; mean age = 12.9 years) n = 1,223

Accelerometry

101–2295 counts/min

Negative affect (the Positive and Negative Affect Scale for children)

Quantile regressions

Standardized β = 0.010, p = 0.837

Sex, BMI, ethnicity, wear time, other physical activity intensities

No significant associations between LIPA and negative affect were found.

95.5

Kandola et al. 2020 [49]

LG

UK

Healthy adolescents (56.1% girls; mean age 12 years) n = 4,257

6 years

Accelerometry

200–3599 counts/min

Depression

Computerized Clinical Interview Schedule-Revised for depression at 18 years of age

-The Short Moods and Feelings Questionnaire for depression at age 12, 14, and 16

Negative binomial regression models and by group-based trajectory modelling

Increasing LIPA at age 12 (IRR = 0.904, [0.850, 0.961], p = 0.0012). Similar estimates were found for the other age groups

Sex, ethnicity, maternal social class, baseline depression, IQ, parental psychiatric history, parental education, total accelerometer wear time

At all timepoints, each 60 min/day increase in LIPA was significantly associated with a lower depression score at 18 years of age: 9.6% for LIPA at 12 years, 7.8% at 14 years, and 11.1% at 16 years of age.

Lower depression scores were identified in participants with persistently high levels of LIPA.

100

Parfitt et al. 2009 [44]

CS

UK

Healthy primary school children (59.6% girls; age 9–10 years) n = 57

Accelerometry

Very LIPA = 100–470.1 counts/min

LIPA = 470.1–976.8 counts/min

-Depression (Child Depression Inventory)

-Anxiety (State-trait inventory for children)

Pearson correlations

Very LIPA and anxiety r = 0.331. p < 0.05

Very LIPA and depression r = 0.282. p < 0.05

LIPA and anxiety r = 0.173. p = N.S

LIPA and depression r = 0.202. p = N.S

Very light PA adjusted for percent body fat

Correlations for LIPA not adjusted

Very LIPA (min/day) was significantly correlated with higher measures of anxiety and depression. No significant correlations were found for LIPA.

81.8

Ahn et al. 2018 [50]

LG

UK

Children (61.3% female, mean age 11 years) n = 6,153

2 years

Accelerometry

100–2240 counts/min

Emotional symptoms (Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire)

Linear regression

Boys:

β = -0.039 [-0.106, 0.028]

Girls:

β = -0.026 [-0.094, 0.041]

Age, season, total difficulties at age 7, limiting illness, special education needs, weight status, self-esteem, ethnicity, income, siblings, family structure, maternal education, maternal depression, maternal employment, British Ability Scale pattern construction, British Ability Scale word reading

LIPA was not significantly related to emotional symptoms at follow-up.

95.5

  1. Only fully confounder-adjusted estimates are shown in tables
  2. Abbreviations: LIPA Light intensity physical activity, MVPA Moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity, PA Physical activity, min Minutes, BMI Body mass index, IQ Intelligence quotient, ADL Activities of daily living, SB Sedentary behavior, CS Cross-sectional, LG Longitudinal