The present study was designed to examine relative effect of sports on reducing depression of the elderly. The data were obtained through questionnaires distributed to 870 elderly people (408 males, 462 females) and through a case study for six months on 81 (33 males, 48 females) elderly people.
　Main findings are as follows ;
　1) The means and standard deviations for SDS scores are 34.70 points in the elderly males and 37.84±7.36 points in the eldely females.
　2) As the results of multiple regression analysis on depressive state of the elderly, eight factors, such as', "annual income", "period of admission to a hospital", "frequency of medical. treatment", "effect of stress", "ADL", "sports", "group activities" , "social support" show a significant multiple correlation coeffcient of R=0.406 (R²=0.165) in males and R= 0.543 (R²=.0.294) in females with depressive state of the elderly.
　3) As to relative effect of sports on reducing depression of the elderly, they are able to account for only 0.06% of the variance in reducing depression of the elderly males and for only 0.8% in the elderly females.
　4) In regular interval's sports practice for six months, SDS scores of the elderly males are reduced but not significant and those of the elderly females are significantly reduced.

DESCENTE SPORTS SCIENCE Vol.17/THE DESCENTE AND ISHIMOTO MEMORIAL FOUNDATION FOR THE PROMOTION SPORTS SCIENCE