Physical Activity Domains, Television Viewing Time, Mental Wellbeing And Psychological Distress.

Abstract

PURPOSE: There is increasing evidence for the relationship between physical activity (PA), sedentary behaviour, and mental health. We aimed to identify associations between dose and domain of PA and sedentary behaviour with mental wellbeing and psychological distress. METHODS: 25,022 adults participated (mean age = 65.9 ± 8.7, 61% female). Occupational, household, transport, and leisure PA (International Physical Activity Questionnaire-long), hours/day watching television, mental well-being (Mental Component Summary from the SF-12 Health Survey; MCS-12) and psychological distress (Kessler Psychological Distress Scale; K-10) were assessed. Linear regression was used to assess the associations between PA domains and television viewing time (all exposures spline transformed) with mental health outcomes. RESULTS: Compared to the 25th percentile, median transport PA was associated with better mental wellbeing and lower distress (MCS-12: (B[95%CI] = 0.29[0.12,0.46]), K-10: (B[95%CI] = -0.39[-0.49,-0.30])). For leisure PA, compared to no PA, the 75th percentile reported better mental wellbeing and lower distress (MCS-12: (B[95%CI] = 0.26[-0.03,0.55]), K-10: (B[95%CI] = -0.35[-0.46,-0.25])). Median household PA was associated with better mental wellbeing and lower distress than 25th percentile (MCS-12: (B[95%CI] = 0.27[0.10,0.43]), K-10: (B[95%CI] = -0.12[-0.22,-0.03])), but not evident for higher PA. There were no clear associations between occupational PA and either mental health measure. There was no association between television viewing time and mental wellbeing, however, it associated with higher distress (25th vs 50th percentile, B[95%CI] = 0.16[0.02,0.30]). CONCLUSIONS: Increasing PA and reducing sedentary behaviours may contribute to better mental health. Future interventions should incorporate leisure and transport PA, and decrease television viewing time to assess the impact on mental wellbeing and psychological distress.