Is engagement in physical activity related to its perceived mental health benefits among people with depression and anxiety? A population-scale survey study

摘要: Objective To examine the prevalence of awareness of PA (physical activity) benefits among those with mental disorders and explore how this is related to actual PA levels in this population. Methods We queried data from the Health Information National Trends Survey 2019. A sample of 1,139 adults with self-reported depression and anxiety (61% female; mean age of 52.5 years) was analyzed. Multivariable logistic regression was employed to investigate the association between awareness that PA benefits mental health and respondents’ levels of PA. Results Of the entire sample, a total of 904 individuals (80.9%) endorsed awareness that PA helps reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety. In multivariable analysis, awareness that PA improves mental health was significantly associated with greater odds of being less sedentary (OR 2.31; P = 0.025) and meeting national recommendations for weekly physical …