Zhang Zheng, Liu Jia-Yun, Zhu Kai-Tuo, Huo Gui-Quan
College of Sports Science, Kyonggi University, Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea.
Wuhan Institute of Martial Arts, Wuhan Sports University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China.
PLoS One. 2025 Jan 9;20(1):e0303594. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0303594. eCollection 2025.
This study sought to conduct a meticulous systematic review, delving into the efficacy of exercise interventions on depressive symptoms among middle-aged and older adults. Additionally, we aimed to scrutinize the nuanced influence of various intervention factors on the intricate relationship between exercise and depressive symptoms within this demographic.
Our investigation involved an extensive search across multiple databases, including PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library, spanning from the inception of these repositories to December 2023. Following a rigorous screening process, we identified and included 12 papers, encompassing a total of 994 subjects.
The meta-analysis unveiled a compelling overall effect size of exercise interventions on depressive symptoms in middle-aged and older individuals, represented by SMD = -0.41, with a 95% confidence interval of [-0.60, -0.22], and P < 0.0001. This statistical evidence underscores the significant and positive impact of exercise interventions on ameliorating depressive symptoms in this demographic. However, a degree of heterogeneity among studies was observed, with I2 = 48% and P = 0.03.
The comprehensive synthesis of outcomes elucidates the pronounced positive effect of exercise interventions in enhancing depressive symptoms among middle-aged and older adults. Specifically, the gentle and balanced exercise series emerges as particularly efficacious in mitigating depression. Furthermore, individual exercises stand out as more effective, with optimal results noted for moderate exercise sessions lasting 30 to 60 minutes. Our findings also highlight the superiority of short-term interventions, followed by medium- and long-term exercise interventions, in terms of efficacy. Nevertheless, recognizing the inherent heterogeneity and potential limitations of our study, we advocate for future large-scale, comprehensive investigations to validate these findings. Additionally, optimizing exercise intervention protocols necessitates a more nuanced understanding, urging further research endeavors to refine strategies aimed at improving depressive symptoms in middle-aged and older adults.
本研究旨在进行细致的系统评价，深入探究运动干预对中老年人抑郁症状的疗效。此外，我们旨在审视各种干预因素对该人群运动与抑郁症状之间复杂关系的细微影响。
我们的调查涉及对多个数据库进行广泛检索，包括PubMed、Embase、科学网和考克兰图书馆，检索时间跨度从这些数据库建立之初至2023年12月。经过严格的筛选过程，我们确定并纳入了12篇论文，共涉及994名受试者。
荟萃分析揭示了运动干预对中老年人抑郁症状具有显著的总体效应量，标准化均数差（SMD）=-0.41，95%置信区间为[-0.60, -0.22]，P<0.0001。这一统计证据强调了运动干预对改善该人群抑郁症状具有显著的积极影响。然而，研究之间存在一定程度的异质性，I²=48%，P=0.03。
结果的综合分析阐明了运动干预对改善中老年人抑郁症状具有显著的积极作用。具体而言，温和且平衡的运动系列在缓解抑郁方面尤为有效。此外，个体运动更为有效，中等强度、持续30至60分钟的运动时段效果最佳。我们的研究结果还凸显了短期干预在疗效方面的优越性，其次是中期和长期运动干预。尽管如此，认识到本研究存在的固有异质性和潜在局限性，我们主张未来进行大规模、综合性调查以验证这些发现。此外，优化运动干预方案需要更细致的理解，促使进一步开展研究以完善旨在改善中老年人抑郁症状的策略。
