Physical activity (PA) may be beneficial in reducing the risk of depression, but studies have reported mixed results. Depression and depressive symptoms are attracting considerable interests due to their related consequences, including increased chronic disease, suicide and non-suicide mortality, and high disease burden. To develop individual-level tailored interventions, more attention should be paid to older adults who are highly engaged in gardening/caring for others.ĭepression is one of the most prevalent mental disorders in later life that has a high risk of disability worldwide. Population-level intervention should encourage community-dwelling older adults to increase their quantity of PA to reduce the risk of depression. This study suggests both the quantity and patterns of physical activity are associated with depressive symptoms among community-dwelling older adults. Older adults who were the most active (PASE quartile: 75–100%) and the athletic types had the strongest significant association with depression ( OR = 0.19, 95% CI: 0.06–0.65), followed by those who were the most active (PASE quartile: 75–100%) and the walkers ( OR = 0.28, 95% CI: 0.14–0.57) when compared with older adults with the least activity (PASE quartile: 0–25%) and domestic types. Resultsįour latent classes were identified: “domestic types,” “athletic types,” “gardening/caring types,” and “walkers.” PASE scores and patterns of PA both were associated with depression. Logistic regression was used to calculate the odds ratio for combined subgroups. An exploratory analysis of joint levels and patterns of PA effects on depression was based on sample subgroups with combinations of levels and patterns of PA. Logistic regressions were performed to estimate the relationship between PASE score, patterns of PA, and depression. Latent class analysis (LCA) was used to identify subpopulations by shared item response patterns. Depression was evaluated with the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS). This study used the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE) to assess the quantity of PA in older adults. The total sample included 2525 older adults. We conducted a cross-sectional survey study in the Minhang district, Shanghai, China, in August 2019, and used a self-administered questionnaire to collect data through home visits. We aimed to identify the patterns of PA through a person-centered analytical approach and examine the association between quantity and patterns of PA, and depression among community-dwelling older adults. Few studies have explored patterns of physical activity (PA) and examined their relationship with depression among community-dwelling older adults.