Comparison 5. Reduction in depression symptoms post‐treatment: Subgroup analyses.

Outcome or subgroup title	No. of studies	No. of participants	Statistical method	Effect size
1 Exercise vs control subgroup analysis: type of exercise	35		Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
1.1 Aerobic exercise	28	1080	Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐0.55 [‐0.77, ‐0.34]
1.2 Mixed exercise	3	128	Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐0.85 [‐1.85, 0.15]
1.3 Resistance exercise	4	144	Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐1.03 [‐1.52, ‐0.53]
2 Exercise vs control subroup analysis: intensity	35		Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
2.1 light/moderate	3	76	Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐0.83 [‐1.32, ‐0.34]
2.2 moderate	12	343	Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐0.64 [‐1.01, ‐0.28]
2.3 hard	11	595	Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐0.56 [‐0.93, ‐0.20]
2.4 vigorous	5	230	Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐0.77 [‐1.30, ‐0.24]
2.5 Moderate/hard	2	66	Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐0.63 [‐1.13, ‐0.13]
2.6 Moderate/vigorous	2	42	Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐0.38 [‐1.61, 0.85]
3 Exercise vs control subroup analysis: number of sessions	35		Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
3.1 0 ‐ 12 sessions	5	195	Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐0.42 [‐1.26, 0.43]
3.2 13 ‐ 24 sessions	9	296	Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐0.70 [‐1.09, ‐0.31]
3.3 25 ‐ 36 sessions	8	264	Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐0.80 [‐1.30, ‐0.29]
3.4 37+ sessions	10	524	Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐0.46 [‐0.69, ‐0.23]
3.5 unclear	3	73	Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐0.89 [‐1.39, ‐0.40]
4 Exercise vs control subroup analysis: diagnosis of depression	35		Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
4.1 clinical diagnosis of depression	23	967	Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐0.57 [‐0.81, ‐0.32]
4.2 depression categorised according to cut points on a scale	11	367	Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐0.67 [‐0.95, ‐0.39]
4.3 unclear	1	18	Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐2.00 [‐3.19, ‐0.82]
5 Exercise vs control subgroup analysis: type of control	35	1353	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	‐1.57 [‐1.97, ‐1.16]
5.1 placebo	2	156	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	‐2.66 [‐4.58, ‐0.75]
5.2 No treatment, waiting list, usual care, self monitoring	17	563	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	‐4.75 [‐5.72, ‐3.78]
5.3 exercise plus treatment vs treatment	6	225	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	‐1.22 [‐2.21, ‐0.23]
5.4 stretching, meditation or relaxation	6	219	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	‐0.09 [‐0.65, 0.48]
5.5 occupational intervention, health education, casual conversation	4	190	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	‐3.67 [‐4.94, ‐2.41]