The effect of endurance exercises on occupational performance areas and the depression severity of students in Isfahan University of Medical Sciences

Depression is one of the mood disorders in which an individual experiences unpleasant feelings of sadness and discouragement. This feeling minimizes the ability of experiencing fun and the joy of life. In previous researches the effectiveness of endurance exercises on depression and occupational performance areas have not been well documented، so this paper was aimed to investigate the effect of endurance exercises on occupational performance areas and depression severity in students of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences. Eighty subjects were participated in this quasi-experimental study. They all read and signed the consent form. Participants were randomly and equally divided in two groups of experimental and control. Endurance exercises carried out for 8-week (3 times a week، 90-minute a day). The Beck depression inventory-II (BDI-II) and Canadian occupational performance measurement were tested before and just after implementing the designed protocols. All data were compared and analyzed by SPSS، version16. The paired t test showed the significant differences in occupational performance (P < 0. 001)، satisfaction (P < 0. 001) and depression (P < 0. 001) before and after intervention. The independent t test suggested a prominent differences in performance (P < 0. 001) and satisfaction (P < 0. 001) among both groups after implementing exercise program but the difference was not significant concerning depression (P = 0. 070). Eight weeks endurance exercises can effectively reduce depression severity and could improve the performance and satisfaction among students.