Less screen time and more sleep critical for preventing depression

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-11/nhri-lst111020.php

 

News Release 11-Nov-2020
NICM Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University

 

A cross-sectional and longitudinal analysis of data from the UK Biobank, involving almost 85,000 people, has found that lifestyle factors such as less screen time, adequate sleep, a better-quality diet, and physical activity strongly impact depression.

The study found:

• A significant relationship between physical activity, healthy diet, and optimal sleep (7-9 hours) was associated with less frequency of depressed mood.
• Screen time and tobacco smoking were also significantly associated with higher frequency of depressed mood.
• Over time, the lifestyle factors which were protective of depressed mood in both individuals with clinical depression and those without a depressive disorder was optimal sleep (7-9 hours) and lower screen time, while a better-quality diet was indicated to be protective of depressed mood in those without depression
• A higher frequency of alcohol consumption was surprisingly associated with reduced frequency of depressed mood in people with depression. This may potentially be due to the self-medicating use of alcohol by those with depression to manage their mood.

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