Anhedonia and PTSD symptom severity profiles differentially influence physical activity volume in trauma-exposed adults
Creators: name: Sato, Motoki
name: Chatham, Samantha A.
name: Aguiar, Elroy J.
name: Fedewa, Michael V.
name: MacDonald, Hayley V.
name: Richardson, Mark T.
name: Wingo, Jonathan E.
name: Crombie, Kevin M.
Publisher: name: Taylor & Francis
Year: 2025
Subjects: subject: Neuroscience
subject: Physiology
subject: FOS: Biological sciences
subject: Biotechnology
subject: Geology
subject: FOS: Earth and related environmental sciences
subject: Sociology
subject: FOS: Sociology
subject: Immunology
subject: FOS: Clinical medicine
subject: Biological Sciences not elsewhere classified
subject: Science Policy
subject: Mental Health

description: <b>Background:</b> It is well-established that adults with elevated psychiatric symptoms or a psychiatric disorder (e.g. depression) engage in lower amounts of physical activity (PA) compared to adults with fewer symptoms/no diagnosis. However, less is known about the association between psychiatric symptoms and PA behaviour in trauma-exposed adults. Most prior investigations have focused on independent associations between overall depression or posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms in relation to PA and have neglected specific symptom domains (e.g. anhedonia). Therefore, we conducted secondary analyses on a parent dataset to examine whether PTSD symptom severity moderates the association between anhedonia and PA volume. <b>Methods:</b> Trauma-exposed adults (<i>N</i> = 107, 61% women, M ± SD age = 28 ± 9 y 54% White) completed questionnaires assessing demographic information, anhedonia, PTSD symptom severity (overall and symptom clusters), and PA volume (total MET-min/week). Main effects and interactions between anhedonia and PTSD symptom severity in relation to PA volume were examined with robust linear regression models. <b>Results:</b> We observed a significant anhedonia × PTSD symptom severity interaction. An inverse association between anhedonia and PA volume was observed among adults with lower-to-moderate PTSD symptom severity, and a positive association between anhedonia and PA volume was observed among adults with higher PTSD symptom severity. Significant anhedonia × PTSD symptom severity interactions for avoidance (Cluster C) and negative alterations in arousal/reactivity (Cluster E) symptoms were also observed, with associations in the same direction as the overall PTSD symptom severity model. <b>Conclusion:</b> These preliminary findings suggest that co-occurring anhedonia and PTSD symptom severity profiles interact to influence PA volume in trauma-exposed adults. Future research is needed to understand why trauma-exposed adults with greater co-occurring anhedonia and PTSD symptom severity profiles reported engaging in higher levels of PA compared to those with lower symptom severity profiles. Such knowledge could help healthcare practitioners tailor treatment plans to incorporate or adjust PA prescriptions. This study contributes to an emerging area of research aimed at understanding the relationship between comorbid psychiatric symptoms and physical activity (PA) behaviours in trauma-exposed adults.Greater anhedonia was associated with lower PA among adults with lower-to-moderate PTSD symptom severity. Greater anhedonia was associated with higher PA among adults with higher PTSD symptom severity.Trauma-exposed adults with greater anhedonia and PTSD symptom severity may engage in high levels of PA as a coping or emotional regulation strategy (e.g. to combat high symptom burden, avoid hyperarousal symptoms, or compensate for loss of interest in some other previously enjoyable activity). This study contributes to an emerging area of research aimed at understanding the relationship between comorbid psychiatric symptoms and physical activity (PA) behaviours in trauma-exposed adults. Greater anhedonia was associated with lower PA among adults with lower-to-moderate PTSD symptom severity. Greater anhedonia was associated with higher PA among adults with higher PTSD symptom severity. Trauma-exposed adults with greater anhedonia and PTSD symptom severity may engage in high levels of PA as a coping or emotional regulation strategy (e.g. to combat high symptom burden, avoid hyperarousal symptoms, or compensate for loss of interest in some other previously enjoyable activity).