Association between physical activity and the risk of prenatal depression in adolescents in Teresina, 2023-2024: cross-sectional study

Gonçalves, Cláudio Fernando Gomes; Madeiro, Alberto Pereira

doi:10.1590/S2237-96222025v34e20240789.en

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ORIGINAL ARTICLE • Epidemiol. Serv. Saúde 34 • 2025 • https://doi.org/10.1590/S2237-96222025v34e20240789.en linkcopy

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10.1590/S2237-96222025v34e20240789.a

Association between physical activity and the risk of prenatal depression in adolescents in Teresina, 2023-2024: cross-sectional study

Associação entre atividade física e o risco de depressão pré-natal em adolescentes em Teresina, 2023-2024: estudo transversal

Authorship SCIMAGO INSTITUTIONS RANKINGS

Objective To analyze the relationship between physical activity and the risk of prenatal depression in adolescents from Teresina, Piauí, 2023-2024.

Methods Cross-sectional study with pregnant females aged 10-19 years. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale and the Physical Activity Questionnaire for Pregnant Females were used. Multiple logistic regression was used, with calculation of adjusted odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI).

Results 182 adolescents were interviewed. The prevalence of prenatal depression risk was 31.3% and sedentary lifestyle was 85.7%. Being sedentary while commuting increased the chance of depression (adjusted OR 2.40; 95%CI 1.01; 5.68; p-value 0.046), while practicing physical exercise (adjusted OR 0.22; 95%CI 0.05; 0.94; p-value 0.041) and having light energy expenditure in daily household chores (adjusted OR 0.26; 95%CI 0.07; 0.98; p-value 0.047) decreased the risk of depression.

Conclusion The prevalence of prenatal depression and sedentary lifestyle during pregnancy was high. Exercising and being active in household chores reduced the risk of prenatal depression among pregnant adolescents.

Keywords
Depression; Pregnancy; Adolescents; Physical Exercise; Cross-Sectional Study

Variables	n (%)
Age group (years)
10-14	8 (4.4)
15-19	174 (95.6)
Race/skin color
White	28 (15.4)
Black	34 (18.7)
Yellow (Asian)	10 (5.5)
Brown	107 (58.8)
Indigenous	2 (1.1)
Not specified	1 (0.5)
Education
<Elementary education	27 (14.8)
≥Elementary school	155 (85.2)
Lives with mother and/or father
Yes	83 (45.6)
No	99 (54.4)
Marital status
With a partner	146 (80.2)
Without a partner	36 (19.8)
Maternal education
Uneducated	6 (3.3)
Elementary education	74 (40.7)
High school	73 (40.1)
Higher education	8 (4.4)
Don’t know/didn’t want to specify	21 (11.5)
Type of school
Public	182 (100.0)
Working employment
Yes	25 (13.7)
No	157 (86.3)
School dropout
Yes	55 (30.2)
No	127 (69.8)

Variables	n (%)
Number of pregnancies
1	137 (75.3)
≥2	45 (24.7)
Number of previous births
0	153 (84.1)
≥1	29 (15.9)
Number of abortions
0	159 (87.4)
≥1	23 (12.6)
Number of prenatal consultations
<6	81 (44.5)
≥6	101 (55.5)
Planned pregnancy
Yes	36 (19.8)
No	146 (80.2)
Feelings about pregnancy (unplanned) (n=146)
Wanted	131 (89.7)
Unwanted	15 (10.3)
Duration of partnership (n=146)
Less than a year	37 (25.3)
A year or more	109 (74.7)
Fights between the couple (n=146)
Don’t usually fight	55 (37.7)
Once a month	51 (34.9)
More than once a month	40 (27.4)
Communication with partner (n=146)
Good	142 (97.3)
Bad	4 (2.7)
Alcohol use
Yes	18 (9.9)
No	164 (90.1)
Cigarette use
Yes	4 (2.2)
No	178 (97.8)
Use of illicit drugs
Yes	3 (1.5)
No	179 (98.5)
Depressive disorder
Yes	19 (10.4)
No	163 (89.6)
Anxiety disorder
Yes	76 (41.8)
No	106 (58.2)
Suicidal ideation
Yes	38 (20.9)
No	144 (79.1)
Risk of prenatal depression (score)
<13	125 (68.7)
≥13	57 (31.3)

Variables	n (%)
Practice of physical exercise
Yes	59 (32.4)
No	123 (67.6)
Frequency of physical exercise (times per week) (n=59)
1	14 (23.7)
2 to 3	34 (57.6)
3 or more	11 (18.7)
Exercise recommended by health professional (n=59)
Yes	13 (22.0)
No	46 (78.0)
Exercise supervised by a physical education professional (n=59)
Yes	5 (8.5)
No	54 (91.5)
Type of exercise (n=59)^a
Walking	49 (83.0)
Cycling/aerobics/dancing	10 (16.9)
Strength training/bodybuilding/crossfit	7 (11.8)
Yoga/pilates	2 (3.4)
Swimming	1 (1.7)
Other	3 (5.0)
Self-perception of physical activity level
Sedentary	48 (26.4)
Slightly active	71 (39.0)
Active	63 (34.6)
Physical activity level
Sedentary	156 (85.7)
Light	25 (13.7)
Moderate	1 (0.6)

Physical activity level	Sedentary n (%)	Light n (%)	Moderate n (%)	Vigorous n (%)
Household chores	82 (45.0)	89 (49.0)	11 (6.0)	-
Taking care of people	135 (74.2)	23 (12.6)	22 (12.1)	2 (1.1)
At work	129 (70.9)	27 (14.8)	19 (10.4)	7 (3.9)
Sport/exercise	182 (100)	-	-	-
Commuting	156 (85.7)	22 (12.1)	4 (2.2)	-
Leisure	62 (34.1)	86 (47.2)	34 (18.7)	-

Variables	Prenatal depression
	Not adjusted		Adjusted^a
	Crude OR (95%CI)	p-value	Adjusted OR (95%CI)	p-value
Practice of physical exercise
Yes	0.58 (0.28; 0.97)	0.026	0.22 (0.05; 0.94)	0.041
No	1.00		1.00
Weekly frequency of physical exercise
Once a week	1.00		-
2 to 3 times	0.90 (0.22; 3.60)	0.882	-	-
More than 3 times	0.25 (0.02; 2.65)	0.250	-	-
Exercise recommended by a health professional
Yes	4.07 (1.08; 15.40)	0.031	1.87 (0.91; 3.87)	0.090
No	1.00		1.00
Type of exercise
Walking	0.34 (0.07; 1.53)	0.159	0.29 (0.06; 1.37)	0.117
Walking and other type	0.56 (0.09; 3.52)	0.538	0.50 (0.08; 3.21)	0.463
Other	1.00		1.00
Self-perception of physical activity level
Sedentary	1.20 (0.55; 2.63)	0.649	-	-
Slightly active	0.68 (0.32; 1.44)	0.538	-	-
Active	1.00
Physical activity level
Sedentary	1.03 (0.42; 2.53)	0.950	-	-
Mild/moderate	1.00
Level of physical activity (household chores)
Sedentary	0.39 (0.11; 1.38)	0.144	0.44 (0.12; 1.56)	0.206
Light	0.33 (0.09; 1.16)	0.084	0.26 (0.07; 0.98)	0.047
Moderate	1.00		1.00
Physical activity level (caring for people)
Sedentary	1.66 (0.58; 4.74)	0.346	1.60 (0.55; 4.64)	0.396
Light	3.48 (0.97; 2.53)	0.056	3.00 (0.83; 11.24)	0.092
Moderate/vigorous	1.00		1.00
Level of physical activity (at work)
Sedentary	2.70 (0.31; 23.14)	0.366	-	-
Light	2.53 (0.26; 24.51)	0.424	-	-
Moderate	1.00
Vigorous	4.36 (0.43; 43.72)	0.210	-	-
Physical activity level (commuting)
Sedentary	0.39 (0.17; 0.91)	0.027	2.40 (1.01; 5.68)	0.046
Mild/moderate	1.00		1.00
Level of physical activity (leisure)
Sedentary	1.52 (0.62; 3.72)	0.364	-	-
Light	0.87 (0.62; 3.72)	0.768	-	-
Moderate	1.00

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[fnte3] ^aMore than one option could be chosen.