Long-term effects of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) on depression and anxiety inmiddle-aged Iranian women

Abstract

Depression and anxiety are among the most prevalent mental health concerns, significantly affecting individuals’ quality of life. Globally, depression has become a major public health challenge due to its rising prevalence and associated mortality. Both disorders are linked to various social and physical health issues, with particularly strong effects on women’s health during the menopausal transition. Evidence suggests that physical activity can alleviate symptoms of depression and anxiety, with high-intensity interval training (HIIT) receiving growing attention in recent years. The present study aimed to examine the effects of a 10-month HIIT program on mild to moderate symptoms of depression and anxiety in middle-aged Iranian women. A semi-experimental pre-post test design was employed. The study population consisted of 120 women aged 50–55 years who reported depressive and anxiety symptoms. Participants were randomly assigned to an exercise group or a control group. Inclusion criteria required the absence of respiratory, inflammatory, cardiovascular, renal, or other chronic diseases, as well as no regular sports activity in the prior month. The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II) and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) were used for data collection. The intervention included three sessions per week (totaling 120 sessions), each lasting about one hour, with warm-up, HIIT exercises, and cool-down phases. Results showed that levels of depression and anxiety decreased significantly (p < 0.05) in the exercise group compared with the control group after 6 and 10 months. These findings suggest that HIIT may serve as an effective non-pharmacological treatment for managing mild to moderate symptoms of depression and anxiety in middle-aged women.