title: Physical activity and depressive symptoms in older adults.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Depressive symptoms are prevalent in older adults, and physical activity (PA) may have beneficial effects on depression. The purpose of this study was to explore the association between physical activity and depressive symptoms, taking into account demographic factors, and the associations between selected demographic factors and physical activity levels in community-dwelling older adults (age ≥ 60 years).
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were drawn from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2005-2006. Descriptive statistics and logistic models were used in data analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Four percent of participants reported moderate depressive symptoms, and 24% of subjects exhibited sedentary PA. Factors associated with increased risk of moderate depression included age, sedentary PA, and chronic medical conditions (ps < 0.05). Sedentary PA was significantly associated with age, race, education, BMI, smoking status, alcohol use, and taking psychotropics (ps < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PA is a protective factor for depression in older adults, and clinical implications to encourage PA are discussed.
authors.affiliation: University of Pittsburgh, School of Nursing, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Heeyoung
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: University of California, Irvine, Program in Nursing Science, Irvine, CA, USA. Electronic address: jungahl@uci.edu.
authors.forename: Jung-Ah
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; The Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic is the official name of the clinic within the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.
authors.forename: Jaspreet S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Brar
authors.affiliation: University of California, Irvine, Department of Psychology and Social behavior, Irvine, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Elizabeth B
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Rush
authors.affiliation: University of Pittsburgh, School of Nursing, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Christina J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Jolley
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003863:Depression / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D009749:Nutrition Surveys
keywords: Depressive symptoms; Older adults; Physical activity