Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Changes in light-, moderate-, and vigorous-intensity physical activity and changes in depressive symptoms in breast cancer survivors: a prospective observational study

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Supportive Care in Cancer Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

Despite the recommendations for cancer survivors to engage in either moderate or vigorous physical activity, light-intensity physical activity may also have beneficial effects on mental health. The purpose of this study was to examine the associations between light, moderate, and vigorous physical activity and depressive symptoms in breast cancer survivors over 1 year post-treatment.

Methods

Participants (N = 201) were a sample of breast cancer survivors who self-reported depressive symptoms and wore an accelerometer for seven consecutive days to measure physical activity, on five occasions every 3 months post-treatment for cancer.

Results

Based on the results of hierarchical linear modeling, relative to others (i.e., between-person effects) and to oneself (i.e., within-person effects), higher levels of light- and moderate-intensity physical activity, but not vigorous-intensity physical activity, were associated with lower scores of depressive symptoms.

Conclusions

In the first year post-treatment, increases in light- and moderate-intensity physical activity, but not vigorous-intensity physical activity, were associated with lower scores of depressive symptoms in relation to other study participants (i.e., between-person effects) and when participants were compared to their own typical levels of physical activity (i.e., within-person effects). The findings may have implications for physical activity recommendations following treatment for breast cancer as light-intensity physical activity may play a role in mitigating depressive symptoms over the first year.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Stanton AL (2006) Psychosocial concerns and interventions for cancer survivors. J Clin Oncol 24:5132–5137

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Bower JE (2008) Behavioral symptoms in patients with breast cancer and survivors. J Clin Oncol 26:768–777

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Luecken LJ, Compas BE (2002) Stress, coping, and immune function in breast cancer. Ann Behav Med 24:336–344

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Sellick SM, Crooks DL (1999) Depression and cancer: an appraisal of the literature for prevalence, detection, and practice guideline development for psychological interventions. Psycho-Oncology 8:315–333

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Radloff LS (1977) The CES-D scale a self-report depression scale for research in the general population. Appl Psychol Meas 1:385–401

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Wrosch C, Miller GE (2009) Depressive symptoms can be useful: self-regulatory and emotional benefits of dysphoric mood in adolescence. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 96(1181)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Andrews PW, Thomson JA Jr (2009) The bright side of being blue: depression as an adaptation for analyzing complex problems. Psychol Rev 116:620–654

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Derogatis LR, Morrow GR, Fetting J, Penman D, Piasetsky S, Schmale AM, Henrichs M, Carnicke CL (1983) The prevalence of psychiatric disorders among cancer patients. J Am Med Assoc 249:751–757

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Reich M, Lesur A, Perdrizet-Chevallier C (2008) Depression, quality of life and breast cancer: a review of the literature. Breast Cancer Res Treat 110:9–17

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Krebber AM, Buffart LM, Kleijn G, Riepma IC, Bree R, Leemans CR, Becker A, Brug J, Straten A, Cuijpers P, Verdonck-de Leeuw IM (2014) Prevalence of depression in cancer patients: a meta-analysis of diagnostic interviews and self-report instruments. Psycho-Oncology 23:121–130

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Burgess C, Cornelius V, Love S, Graham J, Richards M, Ramirez A (2005) Depression and anxiety in women with early breast cancer: five year observational cohort study. British Medical Jouranl 330:702

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Sabiston CM, Brunet J (2012) Reviewing the benefits of physical activity during cancer survivorship. Am J Lifestyle Med 6:167–177

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Conn VS (2010) Depressive symptom outcomes of physical activity interventions: meta-analysis findings. Ann Behav Med 39:128–138

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Cooney GM, Dwan K, Greig CA, Lawlor DA, Rimer J, Waugh FR, McMurdo M, Mead GE (2013) Exercise for depression. Cochrane Libr 12:CD004366

    Google Scholar 

  15. Rebar AL, Stanton R, Geard D, Short C, Duncan MJ, Vandelanotte C (2015) A meta-meta-analysis of the effect of physical activity on depression and anxiety in non-clinical adult populations. Health Psychol Rev 9:366–378

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Brown JC, Huedo-Medina TB, Pescatello LS, Ryan SM, Pescatello SM, Moker E, LaCroix JM, Ferrer RA, Johnson BT (2012) The efficacy of exercise in reducing depressive symptoms among cancer survivors: a meta-analysis. PLoS One 7:e30955

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Craft LL, VanIterson EH, Helenowski IB, Rademaker AW, Courneya KS (2011) Exercise effects on depressive symptoms in cancer survivors: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Cancer Epidemiol Biomark Prev 21:3–19

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Teychenne M, Ball K, Salmon J (2008) Physical activity and likelihood of depression in adults: a review. Prev Med 46:397–411

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Fong DY, Ho JW, Hui BP, Lee AM, Macfarlane DJ, Leung SS, Cerin E, Chan WY, Leung IP, Lam SH, Taylor AJ (2012) Physical activity for cancer survivors: meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. Br Med J 344:e70

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Panel E (2010) American College of Sports Medicine roundtable on exercise guidelines for cancer survivors. American College of Sports Medicine:1409–1426

  21. Rock CL, Doyle C, Demark-Wahnefried W, Meyerhardt J, Courneya KS, Schwartz AL, Bandera EV, Hamilton KK, Grant B, McCullough M, Byers T (2012) Nutrition and physical activity guidelines for cancer survivors. CA Cancer J Clin 62:242–274

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Freedson PS, Melanson E, Sirard J (1998) Calibration of the computer science and applications, Inc. accelerometer. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise 30:777–781

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Borg GA (1982) Psychophysical bases of perceived exertion. Med Sci Sports Exerc 14:377–381

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Garber CE, Blissmer B, Deschenes MR, Franklin BA, Lamonte MJ, Lee IM, Nieman DC, Swain DP (2011) American College of Sports Medicine position stand. Quantity and quality of exercise for developing and maintaining cardiorespiratory, musculoskeletal, and neuromotor fitness in apparently healthy adults: guidance for prescribing exercise. Med Sci Sports Exerc 43:1334–1359

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Ainsworth BE, Haskell WL, Herrmann SD, Meckes N, Bassett DR, Tudor-Locke C, Greer JL, Vezina J, Whitt-Glover MC, Leon AS (2012) The compendium of physical activities tracking guide. Healthy Lifestyles Research Center, College of Nursing & Health Innovation, Arizona State University. Arizona State University, phoenix.

  26. Jones LW, Courneya KS (2002) Exercise counseling and programming preferences of cancer survivors. Cancer Pract 10:208–215

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Nicole Culos-Reed S, Carlson LE, Daroux LM, Hately-Aldous S (2006) A pilot study of yoga for breast cancer survivors: physical and psychological benefits. Psycho-Oncology 15:891–897

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Phillips SM, Awick EA, Conroy DE, Pellegrini CA, Mailey EL, McAuley E (2015) Objectively measured physical activity and sedentary behavior and quality of life indicators in survivors of breast cancer. Cancer 121:4044–4052

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Vallance J, Lavallee C, Culos-Reed N, Trudeau M (2013) Rural and small town breast cancer survivors’ preferences for physical activity. International journal of behavioral medicine 20:522–528

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Whitehead S, Lavelle K (2009) Older breast cancer survivors’ views and preferences for physical activity. Qual Health Res 19:894–906

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Norton K, Norton L, Sadgrove D (2010) Position statement on physical activity and exercise intensity terminology. J Sci Med Sport 13:496–502

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Altschuler A, Picchi T, Nelson M, Rogers JD, Hart J, Sternfeld B (2009) Physical activity questionnaire comprehension-lessons from cognitive interviews. Med Sci Sports Exerc 41:336–343

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Matthews CE, Steven CM, George SM, Sampson J, Bowles HR (2012) Improving self-reports of active and sedentary behaviors in large epidemiologic studies. Exerc Sport Sci Rev 40:118–126

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  34. van Poppel MN, Chinapaw MJ, Mokkink LB, Van Mechelen W, Terwee CB (2010) Physical activity questionnaires for adults. Sports Med 40:565–600

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Buman MP, Hekler EB, Haskell WL, Pruitt L, Conway TL, Cain KL, Sallis JF, Saelens BE, Frank LD, King AC (2010) Objective light-intensity physical activity associations with rated health in older adults. Am J Epidemiol 172:1155–1165

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Chu IH, Buckworth J, Kirby TE, Emery CF (2009) Effect of exercise intensity on depressive symptoms in women. Ment Health and Phys Act 2:37–43

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Thraen-Borowski KM, Trentham-Dietz A, Edwards DF, Koltyn KF, Colbert LH (2013) Dose–response relationships between physical activity, social participation, and health-related quality of life in colorectal cancer survivors. J Cancer Surviv 7:369–378

    Article  Google Scholar 

  38. Vallance JK, Friedenreich CM, Lavallee CM, Culos-Reed N, Mackey JR, Walley B, Courneya KS (2016) Exploring the feasibility of a broad-reach physical activity behavior change intervention for women receiving chemotherapy for breast cancer: a randomized trial. Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers and Prevention 25:391–398

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. Andresen EM, Malmgren JA, Carter WB, Patrick DL (1994) Screening for depression in well older adults: evaluation of a short form of the CES-D. American Journal of Preventive Medicine 10:77–84

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. Zhang W, O’Brien N, Forrest JI, Salters KA, Patterson TL, Montaner JS, Hogg RS, Lima VD (2012) Validating a shortened depression scale (10 item CES-D) among HIV-positive people in British Columbia. Canada PLoS One 7:e40793

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  41. Sabiston CM, Brunet J, Vallance JK, Meterissian S (2014) Prospective examination of objectively assessed physical activity and sedentary time after breast cancer treatment: sitting on the crest of the teachable moment. Cancer Epidemiol Biomark Prev 23:1324–1330

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  42. Troiano RP, Berrigan D, Dodd KW, Masse LC, Tilert T, McDowell M (2008) Physical activity in the United States measured by accelerometer. Med Sci Sports Exerc 40:181–188

    Article  Google Scholar 

  43. Linden W, Vodermaier A, MacKenzie R, Greig D (2012) Anxiety and depression after cancer diagnosis: prevalence rates by cancer type, gender, and age. J Affect Disord 141:343–351

    Article  Google Scholar 

  44. Jorm AF (2000) Does old age reduce the risk of anxiety and depression? A review of epidemiological studies across the adult life span. Psychological medicine 30:11–22

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  45. Campisi J (2013) Aging, cellular senescence, and cancer. Annu Rev Physiol 10:685–705

    Article  Google Scholar 

  46. Ekkekakis P, Parfitt G, Petruzzello SJ (2011) The pleasure and displeasure people feel when they exercise at different intensities. Sports Med 41:641–671

    Article  Google Scholar 

  47. Ekkekakis P, Hargreaves EA, Parfitt G (2013) Invited guest editorial: envisioning the next fifty years of research on the exercise–affect relationship. Psychol Sport Exerc 14:751–758

    Article  Google Scholar 

  48. Segar ML, Richardson CR (2014) Prescribing pleasure and meaning: cultivating walking motivation and maintenance. American Journal of Preventitive Medicine 47:838–841

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This research was supported by a Canadian Institutes of Health Research grant. Catherine Sabiston is supported by the Canada Research Chairs program. Benjamin Sylvester is supported by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education, University of Toronto, 55 Harbord Street, Toronto, M5S 2W6, Canada

    Benjamin D. Sylvester & Catherine M. Sabiston

  2. College of Nursing and Professional Disciplines, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, North Dakota, USA

    Rashid Ahmed

  3. Department of Health and Kinesiology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA

    Steve Amireault

Authors
  1. Benjamin D. Sylvester
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Rashid Ahmed
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Steve Amireault
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Catherine M. Sabiston
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Catherine M. Sabiston.

Ethics declarations

Ethical approval

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Sylvester, B.D., Ahmed, R., Amireault, S. et al. Changes in light-, moderate-, and vigorous-intensity physical activity and changes in depressive symptoms in breast cancer survivors: a prospective observational study. Support Care Cancer 25, 3305–3312 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-017-3745-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-017-3745-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation