Cardiorespiratory fitness protects against stress-related symptoms of burnout and depression

• Published in: Patient education and counseling 2013-10, Vol.93 (1), p.146-152
• Main Authors: Gerber, Markus, Lindwall, Magnus, Lindegård, Agneta, Börjesson, Mats, Jonsdottir, Ingibjörg H
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Age Factors; Anxiety-Depression; Burnout; Burnout, Professional - epidemiology; Burnout, Professional - psychology; Cardiorespiratory fitness; Cardiovascular Diseases - diagnosis; Cardiovascular Diseases - epidemiology; Cardiovascular Diseases - psychology; Cross-Sectional Studies; Depression; Depression - epidemiology; Depression - psychology; Exercise Test - statistics & numerical data; Female; Fitness; Folkhälsovetenskap, global hälsa, socialmedicin och epidemiologi; Gender; Health Status; Humans; Idrottsvetenskap; Internal Medicine; Life Style; Male; Medicin/Teknik; Medicine/Technology; Mental health; Middle Aged; Nursing; Physical Fitness - psychology; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales - statistics & numerical data; Public Health, Global Health, Social Medicine and Epidemiology; Sex Factors; Socioeconomic Factors; Sport and Fitness Sciences; Stress; Stress, Psychological - epidemiology; Stress, Psychological - prevention & control; Stress, Psychological - psychology; Submaximal fitness test; Surveys and Questionnaires; Sweden - epidemiology; Symptoms; Åstrand bicycle test
• ISSN: 0738-3991; 1873-5134; 1873-5134
• DOI: 10.1016/j.pec.2013.03.021

Abstract Objective To examine how cardiorespiratory fitness and self-perceived stress are associated with burnout and depression. To determine if any relationship between stress and burnout/depression is mitigated among participants with high fitness levels. Methods 197 participants (51% men, mean age = 39.2 years) took part in the study. The Åstrand bicycle test was used to assess cardorespiratory fitness. Burnout was measured with the Shirom–Melamed Burnout Questionnaire (SMBQ), depressive symptoms with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HAD-D). A gender-matched stratified sample was used to ensure that participants with varying stress levels were equally represented. Results Participants with moderate and high fitness reported fewer symptoms of burnout and depression than participants with low fitness. Individuals with high stress who also had moderate or high fitness levels reported lower scores on the SMBQ Tension subscale and the HAD-D than individuals with high stress, but low fitness levels. Conclusion Better cardiovascular fitness seems to be associated with decreased symptoms of burnout and a better capacity to cope with stress. Practical implications Promoting and measuring cardiorespiratory fitness can motivate employees to adopt a more physically active lifestyle and thus strengthen their ability to cope with stress exposure and stress-related disorders.