INVESTIGATION OF DEPRESSION LEVELS AMONG REGULARLY EXERCISING AND NON-EXERCISING ADOLESCENTS
M. Oytun HASTÜRK1, Seçkin ŞENIŞIK2
1İzmir Kâtip Çelebi Üniversitesi Atatürk Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi, Çocuk Psikiyatrisi Birimi, İzmir
2İzmir Kâtip Çelebi Üniversitesi Atatürk Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi Spor Hekimliği Birimi, Yeşilyurt, İzmir
Keywords: Adolescent, depression, regular exercise
Abstract
In this study, it was aimed to investigate depression levels of adolescents who exercise regularly, and to figure out whether they differentiate from non-exercising adolescents. A total of 74 adolescents aged 14-18 voluntarily participated in this study, and were divided into equal numbered groups as regularly exercising teenagers and their non-exercising counterparts, who served as controls. The athletes were playing either football or basketball at various sport clubs. All participants completed the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) to assess depression levels, and a socio-demographic data form. T test was used for statistical analysis. BDI scores of adolescents who exercised regularly were statistically significantly lower (p=0.02) than those who were not exercising regularly. Accordingly, depression levels of adolescents who exercised regularly were found less than non-exercising adolescents. It is possible to conclude that regular exercising could be protective against depression.
