Age-varying associations between physical activity and psychological outcomes among rural cancer survivors

Nishat Bhuiyan, Ashley N. Linden-Carmichael, Stephanie T. Lanza, Kathryn H. Schmitz, Scherezade K. Mama

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

5 Scopus citations

Abstract

We examined the prevalence of psychological outcomes (i.e., symptoms of depression and anxiety) by age and age-varying associations between physical activity and psychological outcomes among rural cancer survivors. Participants (N = 219; ages 22–93) completed sociodemographic, psychological, and physical activity questionnaires. Time-varying effect models estimated the prevalence of psychological outcomes and assessed associations between physical activity and psychological outcomes as a flexible function of age. Depression and anxiety symptoms decreased with age among cancer survivors aged 22–40 years and were relatively stable across age among those > 40 years. Positive associations between vigorous physical activity and psychological outcomes in those aged 22–40 years were identified. In those > 70–80 years, there were negative associations between vigorous physical activity and psychological outcomes. Results suggest there is variation across age in the associations between physical activity and psychological outcomes among rural survivors. Future research should further explore these age-varying relationships to identify important intervention targets.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)484-491
Number of pages8
JournalJournal of Behavioral Medicine
Volume44
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 2021
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Anxiety
  • Cancer survivorship
  • Depression
  • Physical activity
  • Rural health disparities

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Psychology
  • Psychiatry and Mental health

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