The effects of physical exercise on the depressive symptoms and quality of life of individuals diagnosed with depression

Özet

Objectives: This study examines the effects of physical exercise on the depressive symptoms and quality of life of individuals diagnosed with depression. Methods: This study used a pretest and a posttest with experimental and control groups. It was conducted in the Nevşehir province of Turkey. The study included 50 patients in the experimental group and 50 patients in the control group who met the inclusion criteria. The experimental group was administered a 14-week exercise program that included 30–45 minutes a day of mild-to-moderate step aerobics three times a week. Maximum heart rate (MHR) was used to keep the exercises at mild-to-moderate level and to select the groups for the exercise program. The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and the WHO Quality of Life-Bref (WHOQOL-Bref ) scale were used to evaluate the partici pants’ depressive symptoms and quality of life at the beginning of the exercise program and the 4th, 8th, 12th and 14th weeks. Results: The experimental group’s median depression scores before the exercise program and in the subsequent measurements fell more than those of the control group (p<.05). The experimental group’s median scores in the physical, social, and environmental domains of the WHOQOL-BREF scale were higher than those of the control group (p<.05). Conclusion: The physical exercise program reduced the patients’ depressive symptoms and increased their quality of life. Nurses who care for patients diagnosed with depression should encourage them to exercise regularly.