Conclusions
depression, depressive symptoms
In conclusion, this study investigated the effects of mobile phone–based physical activity programs on depression, perceived stress, psychological well-being, and quality of life. The findings indicated that 4 weeks of training using the program significantly reduced the participants’ levels of depression and perceived stress. This study suggests that practitioners can recommend mobile phone–based physical activity programs as a cost-effective and accessible alternative for treating depression and perceived stress among adults. Practitioners can offer guidance to patients about how to use the program and monitor their progress while adjusting their treatment plan accordingly. This program can be used as a complement to existing treatment or as a stand-alone intervention. Expected outcomes may include significant reduction in depressive symptoms and perceived stress levels, increased motivation and self-efficacy, and improved overall quality of life. However, practitioners should be aware that the program may not have significant effect on other variables such as psychological well-being or quality of life. Community centers or gyms can also offer such programs to members who are unable to attend in-person classes, making physical activity more accessible and affordable. Employers can also provide these programs as part of a workplace wellness program, thus promoting a healthy work environment and improving employee productivity and job satisfaction.This study was supported by the Bio and Medical Technology Development Program of the National Research Foundation, funded by the South Korean government (MSIT; NRF-2021M3A9E4080780) and the Hankuk University of Foreign Studies (2023).Conflicts of Interest: None declared.CONSORT-eHEALTH checklist (V 1.6.1).