Aerobic Exercise and Subthreshold Depressive Symptoms in Adolescents: Secondary Analysis of a Randomized - Report - MDSpire

Aerobic Exercise and Subthreshold Depressive Symptoms in Adolescents: Secondary Analysis of a Randomized

  • By

  • Xiangbo Yan

  • Robin Shao

  • Jingwen Jin

  • Weicong Lu

  • Zhongqing Jiang

  • Guanghui Zhang

  • Qing Zhang

  • Xiaoyue Li

  • Xinhe Tian

  • Brendon Stubbs

  • Davy Vancampfort

  • Marco Solmi

  • Michele Fornaro

  • Andre F. Carvalho

  • Sonata Suk-yu Yau

  • Fengyu Cong

  • Kwok-fai So

  • Kangguang Lin

  • July 6, 2026

  • 0 min

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Clinical Report: Impact of Aerobic Physical Activity on Mild Depressive Symptoms in Teenagers

Overview

This secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial investigates the effects of aerobic exercise on subthreshold depressive symptoms in adolescents. Aerobic exercise is associated with significant reductions in depressive symptoms, mediated by changes in EEG-derived neural connectivity.

Background

Subthreshold depression affects approximately 34% of adolescents and can lead to a higher risk of major depressive disorder in adulthood. Current treatments, including psychotherapy and antidepressants, have limitations. Exercise has shown therapeutic efficacy in adults, but evidence in adolescents remains limited.

Data Highlights

InterventionPHQ-9 Scores (Pre)PHQ-9 Scores (Post)
Aerobic Exercise9.207.33
Psychoeducation Control7.747.28

Key Findings

  • Aerobic exercise significantly reduced subthreshold depressive symptoms compared to psychoeducation control.
  • Participants in the aerobic exercise group showed a decrease in PHQ-9 scores from 9.20 to 7.33.
  • The psychoeducation control group had minimal change in PHQ-9 scores, from 7.74 to 7.28.
  • EEG-derived functional connectivity changes were identified as mediators of the exercise effects.

Clinical Implications

The findings support the incorporation of aerobic exercise as an intervention for adolescents with subthreshold depressive symptoms.

Conclusion

Aerobic exercise is associated with reductions in mild depressive symptoms in adolescents, with EEG connectivity changes potentially mediating these effects.

Related Resources & Content

  1. JAMA Network, 2023 -- Aerobic Exercise and Subthreshold Depressive Symptoms in Adolescents: Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Clinical Trial
  2. Clinical Practice Guideline for the Assessment and Treatment of Children and Adolescents With Major and Persistent Depressive Disorders - ScienceDirect
  3. Recommendations | Depression in children and young people: identification and management | Guidance | NICE
  4. Guidelines for Adolescent Depression in Primary Care (GLAD-PC): Part II. Treatment and Ongoing Management
  5. BMC Psychiatry (Springer) — Evaluating the Impact of Physical Activity on Anxiety and Depression in Overweight and Obese Youth: A Comprehensive Review and Meta-Analysis
  6. Frontiers in Psychiatry — Physical Activity Interventions on Health-Related Quality of Life (HR-QoL) in Major Depressive Disorder (MDD): A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
  7. BMC Psychiatry (Springer) — Effects of different forms of single moderate-intensity exercise on inhibitory function and instant emotion of undergraduate students with depressive symptoms: a randomized controlled trial based on ERP
  8. BMC Psychiatry (Springer) — Amygdala functional connectivity and response to aerobic exercise in subthreshold depression-an exploratory fMRI study
  9. Clinical Practice Guideline for the Assessment and Treatment of Children and Adolescents With Major and Persistent Depressive Disorders - ScienceDirect
  10. Recommendations | Depression in children and young people: identification and management | Guidance | NICE
  11. Guidelines for Adolescent Depression in Primary Care (GLAD-PC): Part II. Treatment and Ongoing Management
  12. Aerobic Exercise and Subthreshold Depressive Symptoms in Adolescents: Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Clinical Trial | Nutrition, Obesity, Exercise | JAMA Network Open | JAMA Network
  13. Aerobic exercise for depression symptoms in adolescents: a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis | BMC Public Health | Springer Nature Link
  14. Exercise types for efficacy and adherence in adolescents and young adults with depression: A systematic review with network meta-analysis - ScienceDirect
  15. Effects of a school-based physical activity intervention on mental health indicators in a sample of Brazilian adolescents: a cluster randomized controlled trial | BMC Public Health | Springer Nature Link

Original Source(s)

Aerobic Exercise and Subthreshold Depressive Symptoms in Adolescents: Secondary Analysis of a Randomized

  • by Xiangbo Yan, Robin Shao, Jingwen Jin, Weicong Lu, Zhongqing Jiang, Guanghui Zhang, Qing Zhang, Xiaoyue Li, Xinhe Tian, Brendon Stubbs, Davy Vancampfort, Marco Solmi, Michele Fornaro, Andre F. Carvalho, Sonata Suk-yu Yau, Fengyu Cong, Kwok-fai So, Kangguang Lin

  • July 6, 2026

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