Marques, AdilsonMatos, Margarida Gaspar deBordado, JoanaGouveia, Élvio R.Peralta, MiguelGómez-Baya, Diego2021-09-232021-09-232020Marques, A., Matos, M. G., Bordado, J., Gouveia, É. R., Peralta, M., & Gomez-Baya, D. (2021). Different levels of physical activity and depression symptoms among older adults from 18 countries: a population-based study from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE). European journal of sport science, 21(6), 887-894. https://doi.org/10.1080/17461391.2020.1795273http://hdl.handle.net/10400.13/3657Objective: Analyse the relationship between different levels of physical activity (PA) and depression symptoms in a representative sample of European older adults. Methods: Data on PA, depression symptoms and sociodemographic variables from 64688 (28015 men) older adults participating in SHARE wave 6 was collected through a face-to-face interview. The EURO-D 12-item scale was administered for depression symptoms. Participants reported the frequency they engaged in moderate-intensity PA (MPA) and vigorous-intensity PA (VPA). Results: Men and women engaging in MPA and VPA once or more than once a week had less depression symptoms than those who engage less than once a week. MPA and VPA once or more than once a week were inversely associated with the depression symptoms score. Furthermore, engaging in MPA and VPA decreased the odds of depression (cut-off point of ≥4 depression symptoms) compared to engaging in PA less than once a week. Conclusions: Policies for promoting mental health should include PA for the prevention or treatment of depression symptoms. PA presents physical and psychological benefits and can be used as an overall health-promoting strategy, facing numerous problems at a time.engQuantitative studyAgeingExercise.Faculdade de Ciências Sociaisjournal article10.1080/17461391.2020.1795273