Principal Findings
depression, depressive symptoms
CHRONIC DISEASES, DISORDERS
The strength of this study lies in its demonstration of the effectiveness of a mobile phone–based physical activity program in mitigating depressive symptoms and other mental health indicators among adults. This study adds to the growing body of research exploring the potential of digital applications for depression treatment, which is actively being developed and verified internationally. In recent years, digital physical activity applications have gained popularity, with fitness tracking apps such as MyFitnessPal, Fitbit, and Strava being actively developed. These apps use sensors to track users’ physical activity, including steps taken, distance traveled, and calories burned. They also allow users to set goals and track progress over time. Virtual reality fitness games, such as RingFit, Beat Saber, and BoxVR, are another area of ongoing development in digital physical activity applications. These games use virtual reality technology to create immersive environments that users can interact with through physical activity. The gamification of physical activity is also an area of ongoing development through apps such as Pokemon Go and Zombies, Run! This study is particularly important, as it demonstrates the effectiveness of a home-based physical activity program for reducing depressive symptoms and perceived stress among adults in South Korea. The cost-effectiveness of this treatment program adds to its potential as a means of promoting mental health and physical activity in populations with limited access to traditional mental health services. Therefore, this study provides an important foundation for further studies into the efficacy of digital physical activity programs as a means of promoting mental health and physical activity, particularly in populations experiencing high levels of stress and depression.Recently, especially since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, many studies have been conducted to investigate the effectiveness of mobile phone–based health apps in promoting physical activity, and it is evident that such apps are promising tools for promoting physical activity [Regular physical activity and exercise are effective therapies for most chronic diseases, including mental disorders [The results of this study indicate that the mobile phone–based physical activity program developed for this study led to a significant decrease in perceived stress among participants in the treatment group, whereas the waitlist group showed no significant change. The significant reduction in perceived stress observed in the treatment group suggests that mobile phone–based physical activity programs could be a viable option for individuals seeking to reduce stress levels [On the basis of the results of this study, it appears that the mobile phone–based physical activity program did not have significant effect on perceived stress, psychological well-being, or quality of life among participants. Although there was slight increase in the mean scores for psychological well-being and quality of life in both the treatment and waitlist groups, these increases were not statistically significant. It is possible that the lack of significant findings in this study could be owing to various factors. For example, the duration and frequency of the program may not have been sufficient to produce significant changes in mental health outcomes. In addition, individual differences in adherence to the program and motivation to engage in physical activity could have influenced the results.Despite the lack of significant findings, the use of mobile phone–based physical activity programs as a cost-effective and accessible alternative for the treatment of depression and perceived stress among adults should not be dismissed [