The Interaction Between Physical Activity and Alcohol Use on Mental Distress in Black Adults in Pittsburgh

Depression and depressive disorders are among the most prevalent mental disorders globally and present a significant burden on public health. Physical activity interventions have shown promising results for combatting symptoms of depression. Additionally, misuse of alcohol is associated with negative mental health outcomes, and alcohol use and major depressive disorders have been shown to co-occur more frequently than expected by chance. This present study used existing data from a neighborhood-based, longitudinal study in Pittsburgh to assess the interaction between reported physical activity levels, and high alcohol use tendencies on mental distress. The study’s population (N=642) was 96% Black and 81% female. The study hypothesized that alcohol use modified the ability of physical activity to reduce the odds of reporting mental distress. The results of this study showed that physical activity and binge drinking, individually, did not influence elevated mental distress. Instead, the interaction between the highest level of physical activity and binge drinking was found to be positively associated with mental distress. These findings suggest that socioeconomic factors may influence physical activity, contribute to alcohol misuse, and ultimately increase susceptibility to depressive symptoms. Depressive disorders are disabling conditions that present a significant burden on both the individual and society; depressive disorders produce significant costs related to healthcare, productivity, and unemployment. These findings highlight the behaviors associated with depression and depressive disorders and underscore their public health relevance.