TY - UNPB
T1 - The association between anxiety and active behaviour in patients with Major Depressive Disorder
T2 - An ecological momentary assessment study
AU - Hol-Steegstra, Anneke
AU - Helmich, Marieke A.
AU - Riese, Harriette
AU - Snippe, Evelien
PY - 2024/9/13
Y1 - 2024/9/13
N2 - Introduction: There is limited knowledge regarding the effect of anxiety symptoms on behavioural avoidance in patients diagnosed with a depressive disorder. The aim of this study is to improve insight into the association between levels of anxiety symptoms, daily life activity levels, social interactions, and physical activity in depressed individuals. Methods: Participants were 54 patients diagnosed with major depressive disorder experiencing mild to severe levels of depressive symptoms. Symptoms of anxiety were assessed at baseline using the Symptom Check List-90 anxiety subscale. Daily life active behaviours were assessed using Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA, five times a day for one week). We tested the association between anxiety symptom levels and four operationalizations of active behaviours: number of activities, perceived physical activity, perceived social interaction, and social activity using multilevel analyses. Additionally, we explored the association between anxiety levels and specific activities. Results: Levels of anxiety were not associated with any of the four operationalizations of active behaviour. However, in a post-hoc analysis, a positive association was found between levels of anxiety and the specific activity category ‘household, groceries, administration’. Conclusions: Higher levels of symptoms of anxiety in depressed individuals are not associated with active behaviours in daily life but are associated with more household activities. In clinical practice, it therefore seems more beneficial to assess specific behaviours rather than broad categories of behaviour.
AB - Introduction: There is limited knowledge regarding the effect of anxiety symptoms on behavioural avoidance in patients diagnosed with a depressive disorder. The aim of this study is to improve insight into the association between levels of anxiety symptoms, daily life activity levels, social interactions, and physical activity in depressed individuals. Methods: Participants were 54 patients diagnosed with major depressive disorder experiencing mild to severe levels of depressive symptoms. Symptoms of anxiety were assessed at baseline using the Symptom Check List-90 anxiety subscale. Daily life active behaviours were assessed using Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA, five times a day for one week). We tested the association between anxiety symptom levels and four operationalizations of active behaviours: number of activities, perceived physical activity, perceived social interaction, and social activity using multilevel analyses. Additionally, we explored the association between anxiety levels and specific activities. Results: Levels of anxiety were not associated with any of the four operationalizations of active behaviour. However, in a post-hoc analysis, a positive association was found between levels of anxiety and the specific activity category ‘household, groceries, administration’. Conclusions: Higher levels of symptoms of anxiety in depressed individuals are not associated with active behaviours in daily life but are associated with more household activities. In clinical practice, it therefore seems more beneficial to assess specific behaviours rather than broad categories of behaviour.
U2 - 10.31219/osf.io/pktnr
DO - 10.31219/osf.io/pktnr
M3 - Preprint
BT - The association between anxiety and active behaviour in patients with Major Depressive Disorder
PB - OSF Preprints
ER -