Effects of resistance exercise training on depressive symptoms among young adults: A randomized controlled trial.
Level 2 - randomized trial
Individual randomized controlled trial
PubMed 37429171 · doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2023.115322
What was done
A randomized controlled trial evaluated the effects of eight weeks of guidelines-based resistance exercise training (RET) versus a wait-list control on depressive symptoms in 55 young adults (mean age 26 ± 5 years; 36 female). Participants had varying levels of subclinical/analogue Generalized Anxiety Disorder (AGAD) and Major Depressive Disorder (AMDD). The RET protocol included a three-week familiarization phase followed by one-on-one, twice-weekly training sessions. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the self-reported 16-item Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology (QIDS). Between-group differences over time were analyzed via repeated-measures ANCOVAs and Hedges' d effect sizes.
What was found
Attendance was 83% and compliance was 80%, with no baseline depressive symptom differences between groups. Compared to the wait-list control, RET produced statistically significant reductions in depressive symptoms at week eight in the full sample (d = 1.01; 95% CI: 0.44 to 1.57), the AMDD subsample (d = 1.71; 95% CI: 0.96 to 2.46), and the AGAD subsample (d = 1.39; 95% CI: 0.55 to 2.24).
Why it matters
This study shows that a standard, guideline-based resistance training intervention can substantially alleviate depressive symptoms in young adults with subclinical depression and anxiety.
Limits
The total sample size was small (55 participants), resulting in wide confidence intervals for effect estimates. The comparison used an inactive wait-list rather than an active or attention-matched control, precluding control for non-specific social or expectancy effects. Participants presented with subclinical analogue symptoms rather than diagnosed clinical depression, and outcomes relied exclusively on self-report.
Cited by
- supports A randomized controlled trial found that two 25-minute resistance training sessions per week for 8 weeks yielded an effect size of 1.7 in reducing major depressive disorder symptoms.