title: Moderating effects of leisure-time physical activity on the association between job strain and depressive symptoms: the Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We examined whether long-term leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) has a moderating effect on the association between job strain and depressive symptoms using prospective data.
  
  
  METHODS
  Full-time employees (455 men and 480 women) aged 30 to 45 years were followed from 2001 to 2007. Data were collected using questionnaires.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sustained participation in LTPA was inversely associated with depressive symptoms in employed men and women. The direct relationship of job strain to depressive symptoms was significantly moderated by LTPA only in women when the potential confounders were controlled for.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Depressive symptoms are inversely associated with regular LTPA and directly associated with chronic job strain in both sexes. In women, persistent participation in LTPA may modify the relation between chronic job stress and subthreshold depressive symptoms by reducing depressive symptoms associated with job strain.
authors.affiliation: LIKES Research Center for Sport and Health Sciences, Jyväskylä, Finland. xiaolin.yang@likes.fi
authors.forename: Xiaolin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Risto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Telama
authors.forename: Mirja
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hirvensalo
authors.forename: Mirka
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hintsanen
authors.forename: Taina
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hintsa
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pulkki-Råback
authors.forename: Liisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Keltikangas-Järvinen
authors.forename: Jorma S A
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Viikari
authors.forename: Olli T
authors.initials: OT
authors.lastname: Raitakari
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D006801:Humans; D007899:Leisure Activities / Q000523:psychology*; D016014:Linear Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D011446:Prospective Studies; D057566:Self Report; D012737:Sex Factors; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications*; D013997:Time Factors; D014937:Work / Q000523:psychology*