This study was designed with a dual goal: (1) to compare the change in the scores of depressive symptoms by means of the implementation of three intervention programs in comparison to a control group: (a) based on Epstein's TARGET (ET), (b) without TARGET strategies (NET), and (c) under conditions of active exercise (AE); and (2) to analyze whether the Self-determination Index (SDI) predicts the reduction of depressive symptoms. The participants (n = 106; 68 females and 38 males), aged between 18 to 30 years, were randomly assigned to one of the groups. Each treatment lasted 8 weeks (3 hours/week). Of the ET participants, 59.26% showed a therapeutic response, defined as a 50% reduction in the reference score, versus 25.93% for the NET, 19.23% for the AE, and 3.84% for the control group. After six months, the ET group increased their percentage of therapeutic response by slightly more than 10%, which did not occur in the other groups. SDI predicted lower levels of depressive symptoms, and our findings indicate that TARGET strategies can have a direct effect on depressive symptoms at the time of intervention and an indirect effect at a later stage due to their impact on future levels of physical activity.

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