Exploring the Acceptability of Exercise in Students Seeking Treatment for Depression: 'Another tool in the tool-box.'

The high prevalence of depression in university students is placing an increasing demand on campus mental health services to provide adequate and timely treatment. Exercise is an effective and accessible treatment for depression; however, acceptability of exercise as a treatment remains unclear. By employing a qualitative research design that incorporated the use of semi-structured interviews, the current study explored the perceptions of exercise as a potential depression treatment among fifteen students (thirteen females; 18-30 years) seeking treatment for depression. Students' acceptance of exercise for treating depression was informed by prior interest in exercise and physical activity, belief in the benefits of exercise on psychological well-being, and an open attitude towards alternative approaches to managing depression. Referral to supervised exercise may be required to facilitate exercise participation. Findings strengthen the case for recommending exercise within University mental-health services and provide useful insights into students preferences for designing exercise for depression interventions.M.Sc