The associations between body dissatisfaction, exercise intensity, sleep quality, and depression in university students in southern China
BackgroundIn recent years, depression in early adulthood has become an urgent global public health concern. The university years mark a transitional period from adolescence to adulthood. Young people are required to face academic and life pressures independently, which increases the risk of mental h...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2023-03-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Psychiatry |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1118855/full |
| _version_ | 1797867262002069504 |
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| author | Ming Hao Xuesheng Liu Ying Wang Qingfeng Wu Wenjing Yan Yanbin Hao |
| author_facet | Ming Hao Xuesheng Liu Ying Wang Qingfeng Wu Wenjing Yan Yanbin Hao |
| author_sort | Ming Hao |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | BackgroundIn recent years, depression in early adulthood has become an urgent global public health concern. The university years mark a transitional period from adolescence to adulthood. Young people are required to face academic and life pressures independently, which increases the risk of mental health problems in university.PurposeThe main goal of the current study was to explore the sex differences in depression, body dissatisfaction, sleep quality, and exercise intensity among university students in southern China and to analyze the factors affecting the level of depression among university students.MethodsIn total, 1,258 university students aged 18–23 years were recruited for this study. All participants completed anthropometric measurements, the Self-rating Depression Scale, Physical Activity Rating Scale, and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Body dissatisfaction levels were measured using sex-appropriate silhouettes.ResultsCompared with young women, young men had higher exercise intensity and sleep quality, whereas young women’s body dissatisfaction and depression levels were significantly higher than those of young men. Sleep quality score (β = 0.34, p < 0.01), sex (β = 0.15, p < 0.01), physical activity score (β = −0.14, p < 0.01), and body dissatisfaction (β = 0.14, p < 0.01) were significant predictive factors of the Self-rating Depression Scale score.ConclusionLow levels of physical dissatisfaction have a positive effect on depression, and high levels of physical activity and quality sleep can also improve depressive symptoms. At the same time, increasing body satisfaction has the effect of increasing physical activity and improving sleep quality. Therefore, there is great potential to prevent and ameliorate depression by reducing body dissatisfaction. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-09T23:37:28Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9ebd261125f4452787b828ee61ed91ec |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-0640 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-09T23:37:28Z |
| publishDate | 2023-03-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Psychiatry |
| spelling | doaj.art-9ebd261125f4452787b828ee61ed91ec2023-03-20T04:39:25ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychiatry1664-06402023-03-011410.3389/fpsyt.2023.11188551118855The associations between body dissatisfaction, exercise intensity, sleep quality, and depression in university students in southern ChinaMing Hao0Xuesheng Liu1Ying Wang2Qingfeng Wu3Wenjing Yan4Yanbin Hao5School of Public Health and Health Management, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, ChinaInstitute for the Prevention and Control of Infectious and Communicable Diseases, Liaoning Province Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shenyang, ChinaSchool of Public Health and Health Management, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, ChinaSchool of Public Health and Health Management, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, ChinaKey Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Diseases, Ministry of Education, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, ChinaSchool of Public Health and Health Management, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, ChinaBackgroundIn recent years, depression in early adulthood has become an urgent global public health concern. The university years mark a transitional period from adolescence to adulthood. Young people are required to face academic and life pressures independently, which increases the risk of mental health problems in university.PurposeThe main goal of the current study was to explore the sex differences in depression, body dissatisfaction, sleep quality, and exercise intensity among university students in southern China and to analyze the factors affecting the level of depression among university students.MethodsIn total, 1,258 university students aged 18–23 years were recruited for this study. All participants completed anthropometric measurements, the Self-rating Depression Scale, Physical Activity Rating Scale, and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Body dissatisfaction levels were measured using sex-appropriate silhouettes.ResultsCompared with young women, young men had higher exercise intensity and sleep quality, whereas young women’s body dissatisfaction and depression levels were significantly higher than those of young men. Sleep quality score (β = 0.34, p < 0.01), sex (β = 0.15, p < 0.01), physical activity score (β = −0.14, p < 0.01), and body dissatisfaction (β = 0.14, p < 0.01) were significant predictive factors of the Self-rating Depression Scale score.ConclusionLow levels of physical dissatisfaction have a positive effect on depression, and high levels of physical activity and quality sleep can also improve depressive symptoms. At the same time, increasing body satisfaction has the effect of increasing physical activity and improving sleep quality. Therefore, there is great potential to prevent and ameliorate depression by reducing body dissatisfaction.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1118855/fulldepressionbody dissatisfactionexercise intensitysleep qualityyoung peoplesouthern China |
| spellingShingle | Ming Hao Xuesheng Liu Ying Wang Qingfeng Wu Wenjing Yan Yanbin Hao The associations between body dissatisfaction, exercise intensity, sleep quality, and depression in university students in southern China Frontiers in Psychiatry depression body dissatisfaction exercise intensity sleep quality young people southern China |
| title | The associations between body dissatisfaction, exercise intensity, sleep quality, and depression in university students in southern China |
| title_full | The associations between body dissatisfaction, exercise intensity, sleep quality, and depression in university students in southern China |
| title_fullStr | The associations between body dissatisfaction, exercise intensity, sleep quality, and depression in university students in southern China |
| title_full_unstemmed | The associations between body dissatisfaction, exercise intensity, sleep quality, and depression in university students in southern China |
| title_short | The associations between body dissatisfaction, exercise intensity, sleep quality, and depression in university students in southern China |
| title_sort | associations between body dissatisfaction exercise intensity sleep quality and depression in university students in southern china |
| topic | depression body dissatisfaction exercise intensity sleep quality young people southern China |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1118855/full |
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