Physical activity and ability to meet different work requirements among adult working men with or without current depressive symptoms

Ville Päivärinne,Ilkka Kiviranta,Jari Arokoski,Marie Thodén,Hannu Koponen,Hannu Kautiainen,Ari Heinonen

doi:10.1007/s00420-020-01595-6

Abstract

PurposeTo examine the relationship between leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) and ability to meet different work requirements among adult working men with or without current depressive symptoms.MethodsWe measured LTPA with the long version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). The Work Ability Index (WAI) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) were used to assess the work ability and depression of 921 Finnish employed male volunteers. Participants were divided into three groups according to the WAI for their work requirements: mental (MENT), physical (PHYS), and an equal amount of mental and physical work (BTH).ResultsWhen adjusted for age, BMI and employment years, there was a significant difference in weekly LTPA between WAI groups {p = 0.003, [F (2902) = 5.58]}, but not for depression. It appeared that participants with depressive symptoms scored lower WAI in each group regardless of LTPA. In addition, a linear relationship was found between higher LTPA and WAI in nondepressed workers in the PHYS [p = 0.011, β = 0.10 (95% CI 0.03–0.18)] and BTH [p = 0.027, β = 0.19 (95% CI 0.03–0.34)] groups. Among workers with depressive symptoms, similar linearity was found in BTH [p = 0.003, β = 0.20 (95% CI 0.03–0.55)]. In group-wise comparison, work requirements {p = 0.001, [F (2902) = 11.2]} and depressive symptoms {p < 0.001, [F (1902) = 177.0]} related with lower WAI.ConclusionDepressive symptoms were associated with lower work ability regardless of the job description. Therefore, higher levels of weekly LTPA was linked with better work ability among nondepressed working men. Workers with depressive symptoms in jobs that require extensive mental or physical work might need more than exercise to improve work ability.

Highlights

The World Health Organization estimates that a total of 320 million people are living with depression
Our results demonstrate that male workers with depressive symptoms had significantly lower work ability than those without depressive symptoms, regardless of their job demands
Our results emphasize that workers without depressive symptoms benefit from leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) when measured with Work Ability Index (WAI)

Summary

Introduction

The World Health Organization estimates that a total of 320 million people are living with depression. Depressive disorders are globally ranked as the single largest contributor to nonfatal health loss, and mental disorders, in general, are major contributors to the global burden. International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health (2021) 94:451–458 of disease (James et al 2018; World Health Organization 2017). In Europe, over a third of the total EU population suffers from mental disorders, which is why identifying strategies for improved prevention are viewed as a primary health challenge of the twenty-first century (Wittchen et al 2011). Physical activity (PA) is associated with a variety of health benefits, such as reduced overall mortality, improved musculoskeletal health, and stress regulation, with reduced risk of obesity, stroke, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. The effects of PA on mental health and depression are still inconsistent (Chekroud et al 2018; Cooney et al 2013)

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