The association of leisure-time physical activity and walking during commuting to work with depressive symptoms among Japanese workers: A cross-sectional study

Objective: To examine whether the cross-sectional association of leisure-time physical activity and walking during commuting to work with depressive symptoms depends on the level of work-related physical activity among Japanese workers. Methods: Participants were 2024 workers aged 19-69 years in two manufacturing companies in Japan. Leisure-time physical activity and walking during commuting to work were ascertained via a self-administered questionnaire. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CES-D) scale. The odds ratio (OR) of depressive symptoms (CES-D score >= 16) was estimated by using multiple logistic regression with adjustment for covariates. Results: Leisure-time physical activity was inversely associated with depressive symptoms; multivariable-adjusted ORs (95% confidence intervals) of having depressive symptoms for leisure-time physical activity were 1.00 (reference), 0.85 (0.64, 1.12), 0.69 (0.51, 0.94), and 0.59 (0.44, 0.80) for 0, >0 to <3.0, 3.0 to <10.0, and >= 10.0 MET-h/wk, respectively (P for trend <.001). This inverse trend for leisure-time physical activity was clearer among individuals who had low physical activity at workplace (less than 7.0 MET-h/d). For walking to work, such an inverse association was not observed. Conclusion: Leisure-time physical activity was associated with fewer depressive symptoms, especially in workers with low work-related physical activity.