How does lifestyle affect depression?

Abstract

Objective

The aim of this study was to test the assumption that there seems to be association between depression and lifestyle choices. The hypothesis was that unhealthy lifestyle will have an association with increased score on BDI II.

Methods

Czech version of BDI II was used and a questionnaire of lifestyle was distributed among Czech economically active population. Combination of interviews (for older population) and questionnaires (for younger population) was used. Stepwise multiple linear regression was applied to test whether and to what extend is lifestyle associated with depression.

Results

In total data from 1027 participants was collected; 675 persons aged 25–50 years and 352 persons aged 51–65 years. The model explains 31% of variance of depression and the model is highly significant F (8,1018) = 57.66, P = 0.001. Lifestyle choices that were found to be associated with depression were sleeping habits, regular eating and drinking habits and generally conscious adherence to healthy lifestyle.

Conclusion

Overall, an association was found between depression and certain lifestyle choices. Importantly it was also found conscious maintenance of healthy lifestyle is an important factor. This study thus confirmed the hypothesis that there is an association between depression and lifestyle. The most important factor of lifestyle in this study was shown to be regular sleeping pattern lasting at least 6 hours. Regular eating and maintaining drinking regime during the day were also found to be crucial.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.