Antidepressant Effects of Strength, Aerobic, and Combined Exercises among Adult Men

Depression is one of the most common psychological disorders in the world, with the prevalence of 13.6% in Iran among the population with 14-64 years old. The effectiveness of using antidepressants drugs is doubtful as the primary method of treatment and researchers are seeking alternative methods without side effects. In the present study, antidepressant effects of strength, aerobic, and combined exercise among adult men were studied. In the present semi-experimental study, 60 men aged 20 to 35, who were moderately or moderately to highly depressed, based on the diagnostic interviews and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-2), were randomly placed into four groups of 15 individuals, including 1) strength group, 2) aerobic group, 3) combined group of strength-aerobic, and 4) control group, and participated in an eight-week exercise period (24 sessions of 45-60 minutes, 3 sessions per week, intensity of 60 to 75% of one maximum repetition/maximum heart rate). The data resulted from depression levels measurements in pre-test and post-test were analyzed using paired t-test and covariance analysis at 95 percent confidence level. Depression levels decreased significantly in all three experimental groups (strength, aerobic, and combined group). In addition, after controlling the effect of pre-test, the aerobic and combined and strength exercises groups experienced the highest reduction in depression levels, respectively. Based on the existing evidence, it seems that aerobic exercises can produce the most physiological adaptations associated with the regulation of emotions and levels of depression in men; however, other kinds of strength and combined physical exercises and sport activities can be used to reduce the symptoms of depression, as well.