Open Access

ARTICLE

Compliance with Three Movement Behaviors and Psychological Health among Adults with Diabetes

Wenjiao Li¹, Shiliang Chen¹, Shihui Chen², Xinxing Li³, Yanjie Zhang^4,5,*

1 School of Liberal Arts, Shenzhen City Polytechnic, Shenzhen, China
2 Department of Kinesiology, Texas A&M University Texarkana, Texarkana, TX, USA
3 College of Wushu and Dance, Shenyang Sport University, Shenyang, China
4 Physical Education Unit, School of Humanities and Social Science, Chinese University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China
5 Physical Activity and Health Promotion Laboratory, Chinese University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China

* Corresponding Author: Yanjie Zhang. Email:

(This article belongs to the Special Issue: Determinants and Subsequences of Subjective Well-being as a Microcosm of Social Change)

International Journal of Mental Health Promotion 2026, 28(2), 5 https://doi.org/10.32604/ijmhp.2026.072912

Received 06 September 2025; Accepted 20 January 2026; Issue published 27 February 2026

Abstract

Objectives: 24-h movement behaviors (24-HMB), encompassing physical activity, sedentary behavior, and sleep duration, are increasingly regarded as interrelated and important factors for mental health. However, evidence on the comprehensive association of these behaviors with mental health in adults with diabetes in developing countries remains scarce. This study examined the association between 24-HMB guidelines and psychological health among adults with diabetes in developing countries. Methods: Data were retrieved from the World Health Organization’s study on Global Aging and Adult Health Survey dataset. Adults (N = 1905) diagnosed with diabetes from five low-and middle-income countries were included. The exposure of interest was adherence to 24-HMB guidelines, depression, cognition, and quality of life (QoL). Multiple logistic and multiple linear regression analyses were used to examine the association between meeting 24-HMB guidelines and depression, cognition, and QoL, respectively. Results: This cross-sectional study revealed that 28.61% complied with all three 24-HMB guidelines. Diabetic patients who met more numbers of 24-HMB guidelines had lower depression risk (OR = 0.74, 95% CI: 0.61 to 0.91, p = 0.004), greater cognition (β = 0.42, 95% CI: 0.25 to 0.60, p < 0.001), and QoL (β = 1.30, 95% CI: 1.04 to 1.55, p < 0.001) with the non-compliant population. For specific combinations, meeting all three guidelines were significantly associated with lower odds of depression, improved cognitive function, and enhanced QoL (all p < 0.001). Conclusion: These findings support that meeting 24-HMB guidelines in a single or combined movement behaviors was significantly related to reduced risk of depression, enhanced cognitive function, and improved QoL among individuals with diabetes.

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Supplementary Material

Supplementary Material File

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