Background
This study aimed to investigate the association between physical activity and depressive mood among Korean adults with chronic diseases.
Methods
This study analyzed the 2014 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data. The study was restricted to participants aged ≥20 years who had completed the survey and were not diagnosed as having depression. After exclusion, 4,676 participants were included in the final analysis. Subjects were categorized according to their level of physical activity. Physical activity was assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Patients were categorized into two groups according to depressive traits (normal and depressed) based on the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire scores.
Results
In univariate analysis, significant associations were observed between the level of physical activity and depressive mood in both chronic and healthy groups. Participants with higher levels of physical activity had lower risks of depressive mood than those with lower levels of physical activity, especially patients with chronic diseases (odds ratio [OR], 0.47; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.31–0.73). Similar trends were observed in multivariate logistic regression analysis (OR, 0.54; 95% CI, 0.34–0.88).
Conclusion
Physical activity significantly decreased the development of depressive mood among Korean adults with chronic diseases compared with their healthy counterparts. Physical activity must be emphasized in patients with chronic diseases.

Citations

• Comparative Associations of Aerobic Exercise and Resistance Exercise With Depression and Anxiety in Korean Adults: A Nationwide Propensity Score Matching Analysis
  Ye-Jin Yun, Yaeji Lee, Yu-Jin Kwon, Ji-Won Lee
  Journal of Korean Medical Science.2026;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Changes in outcomes immediately after outdoor exercise in people with musculoskeletal diseases: The OUTdoor Physical ACtivity (OUTPAC) study
  Jonas R Ahler, Søren T Skou, Pætur M Holm, Alexander Harrison, Dorthe V Poulsen, Rana S Hinman, Travis Haber, Lars H Tang
  Annals of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine.2026; 69(5): 102095.     CrossRef
• Outdoor Exercise for People with Rheumatic Disease–Study Protocol and Baseline Characteristics of the OUTdoor Physical ACtivity Cohort (OUTPAC)
  Jonas R. Ahler, Lars H. Tang, Dorthe V. Poulsen, Søren T. Skou, Pætur M. Holm
  International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.2025; 22(1): 92.     CrossRef
• The Mediating Effect of Physical Activity on the Relationship between Depression and Health-related Quality of Life among Patients with Hypertension and Diabetes in Seoul
  In-Young Yoo
  Journal of The Korean Society of Living Environmental System.2025; 32(2): 179.     CrossRef
• Benefits and harms of structured outdoor physical activity for people with somatic or mental diseases: A systematic review and meta-analysis
  Jonas R. Ahler, Henriette Busk, Pætur M. Holm, Alessio Bricca, Dorthe V. Poulsen, Søren T. Skou, Lars H. Tang
  Preventive Medicine.2024; 183: 107966.     CrossRef
• Is COVID-19 induced reductions in the level of physical activity associated with increased depressive symptoms in patients with hypertension?
  Yeong Jun Ju, Woorim Kim, Soon Young Lee
  Journal of Psychosomatic Research.2023; 166: 111160.     CrossRef
• Gender Difference of the Association between Energy Intake Expenditure Balance and Depression among Korean Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study from the 2014, 2016, and 2018 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey
  Eunho Lee, Ha Jin Kim, Jusam Hwang, Minseon Park
  Korean Journal of Family Medicine.2023; 44(6): 319.     CrossRef