New Research Links Strength Training to Reduced Depression Symptoms in Women with Anxiety
A recent study published in the Journal of Affective Disorders indicates that various forms of resistance training are associated with a reduction in depressive symptoms among women diagnosed with anxiety disorders. The research, led by Darragh O'Sullivan, PhD, a health researcher at the University of Limerick, involved 49 women with anxiety symptoms who were not regularly engaging in strength training. Participants were divided into two groups for an eight-week supervised lifting program: one performing moderate-to-high intensity training (70-80% of maximum capacity) and the other engaging in lower-intensity sessions (around 20% of maximum). Both groups reported significant decreases in depressive symptoms, with the higher-intensity group experiencing a 54% reduction and the lower-intensity group a 43% reduction. Although the difference between the two groups was not statistically significant due to the study's size, the findings suggest that both traditional and low-intensity resistance training can yiel...
