Abstract:
Objective To analyze the relationship between physical activity level, resting electroencephalography (EEG) and depressive symptoms in college students, and to explore the potential roles of physical activity (PA) on depressive symptoms.
Methods 239 college students were randomly recruited to fill in the Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS) and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-SF). EEG signals were collected for 5 minutes.
Results PA level of college students was 1109 (509, 2232) MET-min/week, and the depression score was 47.401±10.562. There was a significant negative correlation between the PA and SDS score (r=−0.189, P=0.003). The delta power value of central region and parietal region, theta power value of orbitofrontal and frontal region and right-sided alpha1 of forehead had 19.89% explanation for SDS score (R2=0.199, P<0.001). The delta power value of parietal region and temporal region, beta1 power value of parietal region and right-sided alpha1 of forehead were significantly correlated with PA and SDS score (P<0.05), and the correlation direction was opposite. The direct effect of PA on SDS score was 65.37% (B=−0.123, 95% CI: − 0.260-0.016), the delta power value of the top region mediated 16.56% of the mediation effect (B=−0.031, 95% CI: −0.073-−0.005), and right-sided alpha1 in the forehead mediated 18.07% of the mediating effect (B=−0.034, 95% CI: −0.072-−0.010).
Conclusion To identify the depressive tendency of college students, more attention should be paid to the increase of delta power in central region and parietal region and the decrease of theta power in frontal region and right-sided alpha1 in frontal region, which may be related to sleep rhythm disorder, insufficient emotion regulation ability and excessive stress perception. The decreased delta power value of the parietal region and the increased right-sided degree of frontal alpha1 may be the action path of physical exercise to improve depressive symptoms. It may be related to physical exercise’s improving sleep rhythm and enhancing emotional regulation ability.