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Physical Activity for the Prevention of Depression

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Physical Activity Across the Lifespan

Part of the book series: Issues in Children's and Families' Lives ((IICL,volume 12))

Abstract

Mental, emotional, and behavior disorders, including depression, often begin in childhood and are the result of multiple etiologies (National Research Council and Institute of Medicine, 2009). Depression affects millions of people worldwide, and the identification and delivery of effective treatments is an ongoing challenge. An estimated 1 % of adults, or as many as 1.8 million new cases, develop major depressive disorder in the USA every year (Murphy et al., 2002). The lifetime prevalence of major depression is 16.2 %, with rates of treatment around 35.4 % during the onset of the disorder and, on average, a nearly 4 year delay for seeking treatment. It is estimated that less than one in four receive successful treatment, meaning remission of symptoms. Among adolescents, the lifetime prevalence of depressive illness is about 12 %, and less than half of teens with depression receive treatment (Office of Applied Studies, 2005). Given the total global impact of both major depression and subthreshold symptoms of depression, a substantial but largely unquantified problem, and the perpetual difficulties with and considerable costs of achieving full remission, an investment of resources into prevention efforts is warranted (National Research Council and Institute of Medicine, 2009).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Colorado Health Outcomes Program, 13199 E. Montview Blvd, F443, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA

    Bethany M. Kwan

  2. Department of Psychology, University of Colorado, 345 UCB, Boulder, CO, 80309, USA

    Kyle J. Davis

  3. Klein Buendel, Inc., 1667 Cole Boulevard, Suite 225, Golden, CO, 80401, USA

    Andrea L. Dunn

Authors
  1. Bethany M. Kwan
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  2. Kyle J. Davis
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  3. Andrea L. Dunn
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Bethany M. Kwan .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. , Division of Child and Family Development, Administration for Children and Families, L'Enfant Plaza Promenade, SW 370, Washington, 20447, District of Columbia, USA

    Aleta L. Meyer

  2. Child and Family Agency of Southeastern, Hempstead Street 255, New London, 06320, Connecticut, USA

    Thomas P. Gullotta

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Kwan, B.M., Davis, K.J., Dunn, A.L. (2012). Physical Activity for the Prevention of Depression. In: Meyer, A., Gullotta, T. (eds) Physical Activity Across the Lifespan. Issues in Children's and Families' Lives, vol 12. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-3606-5_6

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