Body esteem is a mediator of the association between physical activity and depression in Korean adolescents

Purpose: This study examined whether body-esteem would mediate the association between physical activity and depression in adolescents. Methods: A total of 848 Korean high school students aged 15 to 18 years completed a questionnaire on body esteem, physical activity recall, and depression. Path analysis was used to test mediating effects of body esteem on the association between physical activity and depression. Results: Girls showed a significantly higher level of depressive symptoms than boys. Boys showed significantly higher levels of physical activity and body-esteem than girls. Body-esteem mediated the relation of physical activity with depression. Conclusions: Physical activity might reduce the risk of depression in addition to supporting body-esteem in adolescents. Interventions that reinforce healthy body-esteem and encourage physical activity would help prevent depression in adolescents. Future studies should examine the effects of programs addressing physical activity and body-esteem among adolescents with depressive symptoms. (C) 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.