Women's College Physical Activity and Self-Reports of Physician-Diagnosed Depression and of Current Symptoms of Psychiatric Distress

It is believed that physical activity is protective against depression. This paper investigates the association between women's athletic activity in the college and precollege years and physician-diagnosed depression in postcollege years. College alumnae (n = 3940), former college athletes and nonathletes, completed a detailed self-administered questionnaire that sought information on health histories up to the present time, including questions on history of physician-diagnosed depression and current symptoms of psychiatric distress. A negative association between college athletic activity and self-reported physician-diagnosed depression in the last 10 years was observed (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 0.664, with 95% confidence limits [CL] 0.545, 0.808, p < 0.0001). Other factors significantly associated with depression are living with a spouse, at time of reporting—protective; self-rated current health good to poor compared with very good or excellent; alcoholism; and having a doctoral degree—risk factors. Current state variables based on the Rand Mental Health Inventory-5 (RMHI-5) were also more favorable among athletes. This is the first study to report a long-term beneficial association between women's college athletic activity and self-reported physician-diagnosed depression in the postcollege years and current symptoms of psychiatric distress. The findings support the Surgeon General's promotion of the health benefits of physical activity.