Exercise effects on symptoms of depression and anxiety vary by patient, clinical, and intervention characteristics in cancer survivors: Results from pooled analyses of individual participant data of 26 RCTs.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

This study aimed to investigate whether socio-demographic, clinical, and intervention-related variables moderate the effects of exercise on depression and anxiety symptoms in cancer survivors.

Methods

Data from 26 RCTs in the POLARIS database were analyzed using a one-step individual participant data (IPD) meta-analytic approach with linear mixed models to assess exercise effects on depression and anxiety symptoms (z-scores). Interaction terms were added to these models to explore moderators. Results are presented as betas (corresponding to Cohen's d effect size).

Results

Albeit statistically significant, exercise demonstrated negligible effects on symptoms of depression (β = - 0.11; 95% CI = - 0.16; - 0.06) and anxiety (β = - 0.07; 95% CI = - 0.12; - 0.02) co

SUBMITTER: Kenkhuis MF 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12213934 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature