Keywords
resistance training; depressive symptoms; coping self-efficacy; quality of life; female; college students
Abstract
Background: Current studies have found a higher risk of depression, coping self-efficacy, and quality of life, specifically among female college students and predominantly pharmacotherapy or cognitive therapy intervention have been adopted to improve depression or depressive symptoms, however, current research suggests an alternative strategy, such as exercise, may be an effective approach. Understanding the relationship between exercise, such as resistance training (RT), and other psychosocial outcomes such as depressive symptoms, coping self-efficacy, and quality of life may show the potential of utilizing RT amongst this understudied population and can provide insight on alternative or supplemental treatment options for depression. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on a sample female college student aged 18-25 from the University of Central Florida utilizing inclusion/exclusion criteria. Individuals self-reported their physical activity modality (RT and aerobic training) and habits (number of minutes/day and number of days/week), depressive symptoms, coping self-efficacy, and quality of life utilizing the Becks Depression Inventory II (BDI-II), Coping Self Efficacy Scale (CSE), and the World Health Organization Quality of Life Brief Version (WHOQOL-BREF), respectively. Pairwise Pearson's correlations assessed for statically significant correlations between predictor variables and outcome variables. Two-sample Wilcoxon rank sum (Mann-Whitney) tests for non-normal data and independent sample t-tests for normal data was computed to test for statistically significant differences between the following subgroups: living and employment status, weight status, and race and ethnicity. Results: Sixty-eight (100% female, majority upperclassmen, 58.8% white, 32% minority) provided valid responses for analysis. There were no statistically significant correlations found between depressive symptoms, coping self-efficacy, and quality of life and exercise modality or habits amongst the studied population. Among subgroups individuals who reported High Quality of Life (QoL) in the psychological domain reported being .81 days more aerobically active than those who reported low psychological QoL (pConclusion:Our preliminary data suggests the need for future investigation of exercise modality variety and diversified participant characteristics. Due to study design limitations, pursuing a different study design for baseline prior to RT may be beneficial in providing causation. This study can advance knowledge for future studies pursuing resistance training as intervention for depressive symptoms amongst this understudied population.
Thesis Completion Year
2024
Thesis Completion Semester
Spring
Thesis Chair
Brazendale, Keith
College
College of Health Professions and Sciences
Department
Department of Health Sciences
Thesis Discipline
Health Sciences, Pre-Clinical Track
Language
English
Access Status
Open Access
Length of Campus Access
None
Campus Location
Orlando (Main) Campus
STARS Citation
Tran, Katherine B., "The Relationship Between Resistance Training on Depressive Symptoms, Coping Self-Efficacy, and Quality of Life in Female College Students" (2024). Honors Undergraduate Theses. 130.
https://stars.library.ucf.edu/hut2024/130
Included in
Rights Statement
