A hedonic perspective on exercise intentions: cross-sectional associations with intensity preference, tolerance, and passion.

Depression and anxiety represent two of the most prevalent mental disorders, particularly affecting the elderly population (). According to the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) report in 2021, depression and anxiety ranked second (16.4%) and first (16.7%) (), respectively, among non-communicable diseases contributing to the largest increase in age-standardized disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) from 2010 to 2021. With the global demographic shift towards an aging population, the proportion of middle-aged and elderly individuals affected by these disorders continues to rise, underscoring the urgent need for effective risk prediction and preventive strategies (). However, the identification of depression and anxiety remains challenging, as these conditions often remain undetectable before formal hospital diagnosis (). This gap necessitates the development of novel risk assessment tools or health indicators to facilitate early detection and intervention. In response to these global demographic changes and the increasing prevalence of age-related health challenges, including mental health disorders, the World Health Organization (WHO) introduced the concept of intrinsic capacity (IC) in 2015. This framework represents a shift in public health assessment, moving from a disease-oriented approach towards a focus on functional ability as a key determinant of healthy aging. IC, which encompasses physical and mental capacities, plays a crucial role in functional ability and healthy aging (; ). This multidimensional construct includes five domains: , , , , and . This concept enables a holistic and longitudinal evaluation of health status, transcending age limitations and enabling the preemptive identification of decrements in personal capability (; ; ). Particularly concerning the geriatric population, a reduction in IC often correlates with negative health outcomes, including functional impairment, frailty, and mortality (; ). Moreover, previous studies have also highlighted the associations between individual IC components and the incidence of depression and anxiety, such as low grip strength (; ) and sleep disturbance (; ). For instance, research by Gordon () and Marques () demonstrated that low grip strength is associated with increased risk of depression and anxiety, while McCallum’s () study confirmed that fatigue and sleep disturbances are also risk factors for them. Demakakos () proposed that reduced gait speed is associated with elevated depressive symptoms both concurrently and two years later. However, these studies have largely focused on the associations between individual IC components and depression or anxiety, with the relationship between IC as a composite measure and the two disorders remaining unexplored.