0867 Gender Differences In The Relationship Between Exercise And Sleep In Young Adults

Abstract

Abstract Introduction Exercise is widely prescribed as a behavioral treatment for sleep health, but generalizations about the benefits of exercise for sleep do not typically consider gender differences. The present study examined relationships between exercise frequency and self-reported sleep outcomes in undergraduate men and women. Methods Students were recruited from campus fitness facilities immediately after they finished a workout (N=829, 19.5±1.4 y, 38.5% Female) and completed demographic, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and exercise questionnaires. Department of Health and Human Services Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans were used to dichotomize students into those who met recommendations for weekly aerobic and strength training exercise and those who did not. Multiple regression was used to examine the relationships between exercise frequency and PSQI outcomes and analysis of variance was used to compare PSQI outcomes by gender and exercise guideline groups. Results Compared to women, men reported more days of exercise, fewer days of aerobic exercise, more days of strength training, better sleep efficiency and later bedtimes (ps<0.05). Among all participants, exercise frequency associated with an earlier bedtime, higher sleep efficiency, less daytime dysfunction and better sleep quality (ps<0.05). When divided by gender, exercise frequency associated with an earlier bedtime and better sleep quality in women (ps<0.05) but not men and associated with less daytime dysfunction in men (p=0.012) but not women. Approximately 47% of participants met exercise guidelines for both aerobic and strength training. Participants who met the guidelines exhibited an earlier bedtime (p=0.01) and higher sleep efficiency (p=0.08) than those who did not. There was also a significant interaction effect for sleep latency (p=0.042) such that meeting the guidelines associated with a shorter sleep latency in men (p=0.006) but not women. Conclusion These findings highlight the importance of taking an individual’s gender and specific sleep issue into account when implementing an exercise prescription to improve sleep. Support Rutgers University Aresty Foundation