Physical activity and mental health. Is achieving the physical activity guidelines associated with less depressive symptoms among undergraduates at the University of Turku, Finland?

OBJECTIVES Virtually no previous research assessed physical activity (PA) of university students in Finland, and their associations with depressive symptoms, whilst simultaneously controlling for potential confounders. METHODS Students at the University of Turku (1,177) completed an online health and wellbeing questionnaire that assessed depressive symptoms (22 items), as well as their achievement of the guidelines of four forms of low, moderate, vigorous, and muscle strengthening PA (LPA, MPA, VPA, MSPA, respectively). We explored the associations of depressive symptoms with these PA forms, accounting for socio-demographic and health confounders (age, gender, year of study, marital status, accommodation during semesters, self-rated health). RESULTS Achievement of PA guidelines was generally low for these young adult Finnish undergraduates. Bivariate relationships (no controlling for confounders) between depressive symptoms and four forms of PA guidelines achievement showed that in males, good/very good/excellent self-rated health, and achievement of the MSPA guidelines were significantly negatively associated with depressive symptoms. Conversely, low PA was significantly positively associated with depressive symptoms. Multiple regression (controlling for confounders) showed that achievement of the MSPA guidelines was independently significantly negatively associated with depressive symptoms; and whilst achievement of the MPA and VPA guidelines was negatively associated with depressive symptoms, the relationships did not reach statistical significance. Likewise, low PA was positively associated with depressive symptoms, but the relationships were again not statistically significant. CONCLUSION Universities would benefit from multipronged strategies and approaches employing effective interventions aimed at improving students' general awareness of their health and promoting more physically active lifestyles among students.