Depression is a complicated condition. It seems it can spring up anywhere, at any time, and not always with an obvious cause. As with many mental illnesses, there appears to be a mix of biological and environmental factors that can influence its development.
One of these factors is physical mobility. There seems to be a link between people whose mobility is limited and those who experience depressive symptoms (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14582683/) (https://publichealth.jhu.edu/2011/thorpe-mobility). This doesn’t mean one causes the other, but it does suggest we need to be aware of the possible links.
Mobility is also complicated, involving the strength in our muscles and flexibility in our joints. We can improve it with exercise, through even simple things like walking up the stairs as well as more specialist moves like yoga. Everyone has a natural degree of mobility, so not everyone is going to be springing around and contorting their bodies.
When we get older, our mobility tends to deteriorate. It becomes harder to move around and do the things we like to do, even without the increased likelihood of conditions like arthritis. Elderly people with mobility issues are more likely to lose their independence and have to go into a home, and they’re more likely to be hospitalized. In these circumstances, it’s understandable that their mental health would suffer.
It can also work the other way. People who are depressed can struggle to maintain their regular activities. It can be hard to summon the energy and motivation to exercise regularly. That means it’s going to be harder to maintain good mobility in the face of the natural wear and tear that comes with age. A more sedentary lifestyle means poorer mental and physical health at the same time.
This relationship becomes more pronounced in groups that are already disadvantaged and marginalized. Poor communities and communities of color feel the impact even more severely. There can also be a difference between the experience of men and that of women, with women appearing to suffer the most.
Understanding the causes of both depression and poor mobility is an important first step to planning appropriate treatment. If people are to have access to the right kind of support, we need to be able to explain their symptoms. That’s why this kind of research is so important as we continue to explore the link between physical and mental health.
