Investigation of the Effects of Physical Activity Level on Posture, Depression and Sleep Quality in University Students

Abstract

University years are a critical period for physical activity, which has physical, mental, and social benefits throughout life. This study aimed to understand how the posture, depression, and sleep quality levels of university students with different physical activity levels are affected and to emphasize the importance of interventions that increase physical activity levels. Our study included 366 students from Ankara Medipol University who were studying in 2022-2023 and agreed to participate in our study. Postures of students; with Posture Screen Mobile, physical activity levels; with the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), depression levels; with the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and Sleep quality; with the Sleep Quality Scale and Sleep Variables Questionnaire (SQS-SVS) were evaluated. According to the results obtained from the study, when the beck depression inventory scores of the students were compared according to their physical activity levels, there was a difference in favor of the physically active group (p<0.05), while no difference was found in the sleep quality scale scores (p>0.05). No difference was observed between the groups when the posture disorders were compared according to the student's physical activity levels (p>0.05). When university students were classified according to different physical activity levels, it was determined that sleep quality and posture disorders did not change, while depression levels were positively affected as activity levels increased. Directing students to physical activities and evaluating their posture and directing them to necessary activities is essential.