Onset of Depressive Symptoms and Leisure‐Time Physical Activity Habits and Willingness Among Community‐Dwelling Older Adults: A Prospective Longitudinal Cohort Study

PURPOSE: This study aimed to examine the influence of leisure-time physical activity habits and willingness to engage in physical activity on the onset of depressive symptoms among older adults over a 3-year period. METHODS: This study included 3341 participants without depressive symptoms who participated in the National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology Study of Geriatric Syndromes. Leisure-time physical activity habits and willingness to engage in leisure-time physical activity were elicited using a questionnaire, and the participants were classified into (1) habitual, (2) no habit but willing (willing), and (3) no habit and unwilling (unwilling). Outcome was defined as a score of 6 or more on the Geriatrics Depression Scale in a follow-up survey conducted 3 years after the onset of depressive symptoms. Logistic regression analysis was used to examine the effects of habit and willingness on the onset of depressive symptoms. RESULTS: Of the participants (median age 70 years [interquartile range: 66-76 years]; 56.0% were women), 275 (14.1%) developed depressive symptoms. The habitual, willing, and unwilling groups comprised 2879 (87.2%), 246 (7.5%), and 176 (5.3%), respectively. Logistic regression analysis showed that compared to the habit group, the willing group was significantly associated with the onset of depressive symptoms (odds ratio [OR] 1.75, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.10-2.78), while the unwilling group was not significantly associated with the onset of depressive symptoms (OR 0.99, 95% CI 0.54-1.82). CONCLUSION: The gap between the willingness to exercise and the lack of a daily habit can increase the risk of depression in older adults.