Effects of Physical Activity on Depression Among Adults: A Case-Control Study

Background and Objective: Depression affects millions globally, with physical activity proposed as a protective factor. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between physical activity levels and depression among adults in Poonch, AJK, Pakistan, while identifying associated socio-demographic factors. Materials and Methods: A case-control study was conducted with 112 adults (56 with depression, 56 controls) at a central military hospital, using purposive sampling. Data were collected through the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ), and socio-demographic forms. Data were analyzed using R software 4.0.4 (RStudio 1.4.1106), with descriptive statistics, Chi-square tests for categorical variables, t-tests for continuous variables, and significance set at p≤0.05. Results: Cases exhibited significantly higher depression symptoms (p<0.0001) and lower physical activity levels (mean METs/week: 781.28 vs 1048.64, p = 0.002) compared to controls. Urban residence was associated with increased odds of depression (AOR = 2.66; 95% CI: 1.03-8.78), while higher physical activity was protective (AOR = 0.998; 95% CI: 0.997-0.999). Age, gender, marital status, education, income, job type, working hours, and BMI showed no significant associations with depression. Conclusion: Urban residence emerged as a significant independent risk factor for depression (AOR = 2.66), while higher physical activity levels demonstrated a protective effect (AOR = 0.998). These findings highlight the importance of socio-demographic context and lifestyle factors in depression etiology, suggesting that targeted interventions promoting physical activity and addressing urban-specific stressors may be particularly valuable for depression prevention in this population.