The effects of chronotype and physical activity on depressive symptoms in medical students

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Bozkurt D., Özdalyan F., Açıkgöz A., Açıkgöz O.

Biological Rhythm Research, 2025 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus) identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Basım Tarihi: 2025
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1080/09291016.2025.2522818
  • Dergi Adı: Biological Rhythm Research
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, Animal Behavior Abstracts, Aquatic Science & Fisheries Abstracts (ASFA), BIOSIS, CAB Abstracts, EMBASE, Geobase, Psycinfo, SportDiscus, Veterinary Science Database
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: Chronotype, circadian rhythm, depression, depressive symptoms, physical activity
  • Dokuz Eylül Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

This study aimed to determine the effects of chronotype and physical activity on depressive symptoms in medical students. This study was applied to 799 students at Dokuz Eylul University, Faculty of Medicine in Turkey. Data were collected using the Morningness-Eveningness Scale, the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ), and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). The mean BDI score of the participants was 14.7 ± 8.5. This study found that 35.7% of medical students had BDI scores above the cut-off point indicative for the risk of depression. Females were more depressed (p < 0.05, r = 0.08), males were more physically active (p < 0.001, r = 0.24). Those more depressed were less physically active (p < 0.05, r = 0.09) with more pronounced eveningness (p < 0.001, r = 0.17). In the logistic regression analysis examining the effects of physical activity, chronotype, sex, and perception of income level variables on depressive symptoms together, it was found that depressive symptoms increased 2.63 times (95% CI: 1.45–4.78) in those with evening chronotype, 1.39 times (95% CI: 1.01–1.90) in females and 5.65 times (95% CI: 3.49–9.12) in those with low income; physical activity level did not affect depressive symptoms. In medical students, being female, having low income, and having an evening chronotype increased depressive symptoms.