Effect of Concurrent Exercise Training on Stress, Depression and Anxiety in Inactive Academics: Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial

This randomized controlled trial investigated the effect of concurrent training (CT) on the mental health of inactive academics and examined associations between changes in stress (effort-reward imbalance and general stress), depressive symptoms and systemic inflammation. Fifty-nine inactive academics were randomly assigned to a CT (<i>n</i> = 29) or control (non-exercise) group (<i>n</i> = 30). CT performed supervised group training at an onsite facility 3 times per week for 14-weeks. Symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress (job specific and general), and systemic inflammation (Interleukin-6 and Tumor necrosis factor-α) were measured pre and post intervention, and ecological momentary assessment of wellness measures was conducted before and during the last 2-weeks of the intervention. An effort-reward imbalance was evident before (CT, 1.26 ± 0.37; control; 1.22 ± 0.47) and after (CT, 1.16 ± 0.31; control; 1.21 ± 0.35) training, with no interaction effect (<i>p</i> > .05). Following CT, symptoms of depression decreased in the CT group (<i>p</i> = .009) with no change in control (<i>p</i> = .463). There were positive correlations between changes in stress and symptoms of depression (<i>p</i> < .05), but no relationship between changes in systemic inflammation and changes in stress or depression (<i>p</i> > .05). CT can decrease symptoms of depression in inactive academics despite the continued presence of an effort-reward imbalance. These findings may be important for universities aiming to improve the mental health of currently inactive academics.