Journal article
Physical activity and suicidal behavior in medical students from the United States
Journal of affective disorders, Vol.367, pp.658-667
15/12/2024
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Abstract
Background
There are little data on the relationship between physical activity and suicidal behavior in medical students. Therefore, this cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the association between physical activity and suicidal behavior and identify mediating factors involved in the association among medical students from the United States.
Methods
Data from the Healthy Minds Study (2007–2023) were used. Physical activity and suicidal behavior (i.e., suicidal ideation, suicide plans, and suicide attempts) were self-reported. Control variables included age, gender, ethnicity/race, relationship status, citizenship, current financial stress, and academic year. Mediating factors were flourishing, generalized anxiety disorder symptoms, depressive symptoms, eating disorder symptoms, binge drinking, smoking, and drug use.
Results
There were 6452 medical students included in the study (median [IQR] age 25.0 [3.0] years; 4032 [62.5 %] women). After adjusting for control variables, compared with <1 hour of physical activity per week, the odds of any suicidal behavior were significantly lower for 3–4 hours (OR = 0.57, 95 % CI = 0.41–0.79) and ≥5 hours of physical activity per week (OR = 0.52, 95 % CI = 0.39–0.70). The physical activity-any suicidal behavior relationship was partially explained by decreased depressive symptoms (39.4 %), increased flourishing (27.6 %), and decreased generalized anxiety disorder symptoms (18.7 %).
Limitations
Data are of a cross-sectional nature.
Conclusions
There was an inverse association between physical activity and suicidal behavior in medical students from the United States, while several variables were identified as mediating factors (i.e., depressive symptoms, flourishing, and general anxiety disorder symptoms). Further research is needed to corroborate these findings in other settings, while longitudinal data are urgently warranted.
Details
- Title
- Physical activity and suicidal behavior in medical students from the United States
- Creators
- Hans Oh - University of Southern CaliforniaBenjamin Landré - Université Paris CitéDong Keon Yon - Kyung Hee University Medical CenterAriel Frajerman - University of Paris-SaclayRazak M. Gyasi - Southern Cross UniversityLouis Jacob - Université Paris Cité
- Publication Details
- Journal of affective disorders, Vol.367, pp.658-667
- Publisher
- Elsevier B.V
- Identifiers
- 991013222612302368
- Copyright
- © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights are reserved, including those for text and data mining, AI training, and similar technologies.
- Academic Unit
- National Centre for Naturopathic Medicine
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article