Abstract
The purpose of this study is to clarify causal relationship between depression and exercise in both directions of retired men. To the 655 retierd men over fifty five years of age (mean age, 61.8 years ± 2.5) who was working on the company or organization in all over Japan 7 area, investigation about a depressed and exercise was conducted, and it analyzed by Structual Equation Model. As a result, in old age group (65 years≦), the causal relationship in both directions was accepted between a depression and exercise. On the other hand, by the middle age group (< 65 years), although the influence depression affects exercise was shown, the causal relationship of an opposite direction did not accept. Moreover, the strength of the influence to exercise from depression accepted that the old age group was larger than a middle age group. From these results, by the retired men, mitigation of depression which precedes the intervention to exercise may lead to formation of exercise customs, such as exercise, a walk, and gymnastics, and it was suggested that the degree of influence of the old age group is larger than a middle age group. On the other hand, although continuing movement customs, such as movement, a walk, and gymnastics, might be connected with mitigating depression by old age group, it was guessed by the middle age group that continuing exercise cannot say that it leads to improving depression.
