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Depressive symptoms are negatively associated with both physical and mental health-related quality of life among physical education teacher education students

In a cross-sectional study of 168 physically active physical education teacher education students in Chile, depressive symptoms were negatively associated with both the physical component summary (PCS) and mental component summary (MCS) of HRQoL, with stronger associations for MCS. The model explained 61% of variance in MCS but only 6% in PCS, indicating mental health symptoms are more strongly linked to HRQoL than physical activity in this sample.

Last updated: Jul 28, 2026•0 RCTs•📖 Read as article →

Evidence Score

Evidence Score34/100
Human RCT☆☆☆☆☆
Meta-analysis☆☆☆☆☆
Mechanism★★★★★
Safety★★★★☆
Confidencelow

Study Evidence

Study 1. Physical activity, mental-health symptoms, sleep quality, and health-related quality of life among physical education teacher education students: a cross-sectional study.

observational

Merellano-Navarro E, Loyola-Arriagada P, Moran-Toloza A, Bruneau-Chávez J, Giakoni-Ramírez F, Gajardo-Herrera D, Pena-Rojas J, Godoy-Cumillaf A · Frontiers in public health (2026)

Participants: 168
Duration: N/A (cross-sectional)
Intervention: Assessment of depressive symptoms via the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale-21
Outcome: Health-related quality of life (PCS and MCS scores from SF-12v2)
Effect Size: N/A (beta coefficients not reported in abstract)
Population: 168 physical education teacher education students in Chile (young, physically active)

Result: In a cross-sectional study of 168 physically active physical education teacher education students in Chile, depressive symptoms were negatively associated with both the physical component summary (PCS) and mental component summary (MCS) of HRQoL, with stronger associations for MCS. The model explained 61% of variance in MCS but only 6% in PCS, indicating mental health symptoms are more strongly linked to HRQoL than physical activity in this sample.

PubMed: 42494908DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2026.1833793

Mechanism Graph

Depressive symptoms are measured via DASS-21
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Multivariable linear regression models adjust for sex and academic cohort
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Depressive symptoms show negative association with both PCS and MCS
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Stronger negative association observed for MCS than PCS

Limitations

  • ⚠Cross-sectional design prevents causal or longitudinal interpretation
  • ⚠Sample is young and physically active, limiting variability in physical activity and perceived physical health
  • ⚠Single university in Chile limits generalizability

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the average sleep quality score in this study?▼

The mean PSQI score was 9.71 ± 2.77, indicating poor overall sleep quality according to established PSQI criteria.

Was physical activity associated with better mental health-related quality of life?▼

Yes, physical activity was positively associated with the mental component summary (MCS) score, but not with the physical component summary (PCS) score.

How much variance in mental health-related quality of life did the model explain?▼

The model explained 61% of the variance in MCS (R² = 0.61), compared to only 6% in PCS (R² = 0.06).

What were the main factors associated with HRQoL in this study?▼

Depressive symptoms were negatively associated with both physical and mental HRQoL, while physical activity was positively associated only with mental HRQoL. Academic cohort was also significantly associated with MCS.

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References

  1. 1.Merellano-Navarro E, Loyola-Arriagada P, Moran-Toloza A, Bruneau-Chávez J, Giakoni-Ramírez F, Gajardo-Herrera D, Pena-Rojas J, Godoy-Cumillaf A. "Physical activity, mental-health symptoms, sleep quality, and health-related quality of life among physical education teacher education students: a cross-sectional study.." Frontiers in public health, 2026. PMID: 42494908 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2026.1833793
Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Evidence scores reflect the quality and quantity of available research, not clinical recommendations. Always consult a healthcare professional before starting any supplement or intervention.