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Psicothema was founded in Asturias (northern Spain) in 1989, and is published jointly by the Psychology Faculty of the University of Oviedo and the Psychological Association of the Principality of Asturias (Colegio Oficial de Psicólogos del Principado de Asturias).
We currently publish four issues per year, which accounts for some 100 articles annually. We admit work from both the basic and applied research fields, and from all areas of Psychology, all manuscripts being anonymously reviewed prior to publication.

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Physical Activity and Prevention of Depressive Symptoms in the Spanish Population during Confinement due to COVID-19

Antonio Méndez-Giménez, José Antonio Cecchini, Javier Fernández-Río, and Alejandro Carriedo

Universidad de Oviedo

Background: In March 2020, the Spanish government established an official lockdown across the country in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and confined the population to their homes, restricting their mobility. The objectives of the study are twofold: a) to examine dose-response relationships between physical activity (PA) components (volume, intensity, frequency, duration) and depressive symptoms of the population during confinement, and b) to identify the optimal levels of PA to mitigate notable depressive symptoms (NDS). Methods: 4,811 (2,952 women) Spanish citizens, age range 16-92 years, completed an online questionnaire (snowball sampling) to measure their levels of depressive symptoms, PA, and various anthropometric and sociometric variables. Volume (METs-min/week), frequency (days/week), and duration (hours) were examined using logistic regressions with restricted cubic splines. Results: The PA components were inversely associated with NDS. Performing at least 477 METs-min/week was associated with a 33% decrease in probability of NDS, and reaching 3,000 METs-min/week was associated with the lowest risk of NDS (47%). As for frequency, with 10 times/week the probability of NDS was 56% lower. At 10 hours of weekly practice, the probability of NDS was 39% lower. Conclusions: A range and optimal amount of PA is suggested to reduce the appearance of SDN during confinement.

Actividad Física y Prevención de Síntomas Depresivos en Población Española durante el Confinamiento por COVID-19. Antecedentes: en marzo de 2020 el gobierno español decretó el estado de alarma debido a la pandemia por COVID-19 y confinó a la población. Los objetivos son dos: a) examinar las relaciones dosis-respuesta entre los componentes de actividad física (AF: volumen, intensidad, frecuencia y duración) y los síntomas depresivos de la población durante el confinamiento, y b) identificar los niveles óptimos de AF para mitigar los síntomas depresivos notables (SDN). Método: 4.811 (2.952 mujeres) ciudadanos de España, de 16 a 92 años respondieron a un cuestionario on line (muestreo de bola de nieve) para medir sus niveles de síntomas depresivos, AF, y variables antropométricas y sociométricas. El volumen (METs-min/sem), la frecuencia (días/sem) y la duración (horas) se examinaron mediante regresiones logísticas con splines cúbicas restringidas. Resultados: los componentes de AF se asociaron inversamente con las probabilidades de SDN. La realización de 477 METs-min/sem se asoció con una disminución del 33% en las probabilidades de SDN, y alcanzar 3.000 METs-min/sem se asoció con el menor riesgo de SDN (47%). En cuanto a  frecuencia, con 10 días/sem las probabilidades de SDN fueron un 56% más bajas. A las 10 horas de práctica semanal, las probabilidades de SDN fueron un 39% más bajas. Conclusiones: se sugiere un rango y cantidad óptima de AF para reducir la aparición de SDN en confinamiento.

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