Body esteem is a mediator of the association between physical activity and depression in Korean adolescents

Abstract

Purpose: This study examined whether body-esteem would mediate the association between physical activity and depression in adolescents.

Methods: A total of 848 Korean high school students aged 15 to 18years completed a questionnaire on body-esteem, physical activity recall, and depression. Path analysis was used to test mediating effects of body-esteem on the association between physical activity and depression.

Results: Girls showed a significantly higher level of depressive symptoms than boys. Boys showed significantly higher levels of physical activity and body-esteem than girls. Body-esteem mediated the relation of physical activity with depression.

Conclusions: Physical activity might reduce the risk of depression in addition to supporting body-esteem in adolescents. Interventions that reinforce healthy body-esteem and encourage physical activity would help prevent depression in adolescents. Future studies should examine the effects of programs addressing physical activity and body-esteem among adolescents with depressive symptoms.

Keywords: Adolescents; Body-esteem; Depression; Physical activity.