AP® Psychology · Free response

Does exercise reduce symptoms of depression?

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Q2: Evidence-Based Question (EBQ) · no calculator · 7 points · about 45 minutes

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The question

Name: ______________________   Date: ____________   Does exercise reduce symptoms of depression? (7 points)

Study

Source 1: Aerobic exercise compared with stretching

Introduction

Researchers asked whether supervised aerobic exercise reduces symptoms in adults with major depressive disorder.

Participants

90 adults ages 25 to 60 with major depressive disorder, diagnosed by a clinician, were recruited from two outpatient clinics in a large US city. None were taking medication for depression. All gave written informed consent and were told they could leave the study at any time.

Method

Participants were randomly assigned to 12 weeks of supervised aerobic exercise (brisk walking or cycling, 40 minutes, three times a week) or 12 weeks of supervised stretching for the same amount of time. Depression was measured before and after with a 21-item symptom questionnaire (0 to 63; higher scores mean more severe symptoms) given by an interviewer who did not know each person's group.

Results

Mean scores fell from 29 to 17 in the aerobic exercise group and from 29 to 24 in the stretching group. The difference between the groups after 12 weeks was statistically significant.

Discussion

Aerobic exercise reduced symptoms more than stretching, which gave the same time and attention without aerobic activity.

Invented study for practice.

010203040GroupMean depression score (0 to 63)Aerobic exerciseStretchingBeforeAfter 12 weeks

Study

Source 2: Exercise, therapy and medication

Introduction

Researchers compared exercise with two established treatments for depression in older adults.

Participants

120 adults ages 50 to 75 with major depressive disorder were recruited from community health centers in three US states. All gave informed consent, and a university institutional review board approved the study.

Method

Participants were randomly assigned to 16 weeks of group aerobic exercise (three sessions a week), weekly cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), or an SSRI antidepressant. Depression was measured before and after with the same 21-item questionnaire (0 to 63).

Results

Mean scores fell by 12 points with exercise, 13 points with CBT and 12 points with the antidepressant. The differences among the three groups were not statistically significant.

Discussion

For these older adults, exercise reduced symptoms about as much as CBT or medication. The study had no untreated group.

Invented study for practice.

Mean depression scores (0 to 63) before and after 16 weeks (invented data for practice)
GroupBeforeAfterDrop
Aerobic exercise301812
CBT311813
Antidepressant (SSRI)301812

Study

Source 3: Physical activity and mood in teenagers

Introduction

Researchers asked whether teenagers who are more physically active report fewer symptoms of depression.

Participants

2,000 students ages 14 to 18 at 20 public high schools in Canada completed an online survey. Parents gave consent and students gave assent; answers were anonymous.

Method

Students reported how many hours a week they spent in physical activity and completed a 10-item depression symptom checklist (0 to 30; higher scores mean more symptoms). The researchers did not assign activity levels.

Results

Students who reported 5 or more hours of activity a week had a mean symptom score of 9, compared with 11 for 2 to 4 hours and 14 for 0 to 1 hour. More activity was associated with fewer symptoms.

Discussion

Active teenagers reported fewer symptoms, but because activity was not manipulated, the study cannot show that activity caused the difference.

Invented study for practice.

02.557.51012.515Physical activity per weekMean symptom score (0 to 30)0 to 1 hours2 to 4 hours5 or more hours

  1. (A) Propose a specific and defensible claim based in psychological science that responds to the question. [1 point]

  2. (B(i)) Support your claim using at least one piece of specific and relevant evidence from one of the sources. [1 point]

  3. (B(ii)) Explain how the evidence from B(i) supports your claim, using a psychological perspective, theory, concept or research finding learned in AP® Psychology. [2 points]

  4. (C(i)) Support your claim using a different piece of specific and relevant evidence from another source. [1 point]

  5. (C(ii)) Explain how the evidence from C(i) supports your claim, using a different psychological perspective, theory, concept or research finding from the one in B(ii). [2 points]