Study Finds Variety, Intensity of Exercise Lower Odds of Depressive Symptoms
Kenneth H. Cooper Institute at TTUHSC Releases Findings
Engaging in a variety of physical activities — especially those of higher intensity — may be linked to lower odds of experiencing depressive symptoms, according to new research published June 15, 2026, in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise.
The study, conducted by a team at the Kenneth H. Cooper Institute at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC), analyzed data from more than 38,000 adult participants in the Cooper Center Longitudinal Study to better understand how different characteristics of physical activity relate to depressive symptoms measured by the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), a widely used screening tool.
