Low physical activity and high screen time can increase the risks of mental health problems and poor sleep quality among Chinese college students.

Xiaoyan Wu,Yukun Zhang,Fangbiao Tao,Shuman Tao,Shichen Zhang,Jie Tian

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0119607

Xiaoyan Wu, Yukun Zhang + Show 4 more

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https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0119607

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Journal: PloS one	Publication Date: Mar 18, 2015
Citations: 240	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: Anhui Medical University

Abstract

ObjectiveTo test the independent and interactive associations of physical activity (PA) and screen time (ST) with self-reported mental health and sleep quality among Chinese college students.MethodData were collected in October, 2013. The gender, age, residential background, body mass index (BMI), perceived family economy and perceived study burden were obtained from a total of 4747 college students (41.6% males and 58.4% females). The outcomes were self-reported PA status, ST, anxiety, depression, psychopathological symptoms and sleep quality. Analyses were conducted with logistic regression models.ResultsOverall, 16.3%, 15.9% and 17.3% of the students had psychological problems, such as anxiety, depression and psychopathological symptoms, respectively. The prevalence of poor sleep quality was 9.8%. High ST was significantly positively associated with anxiety (OR=1.38, 95%CI: 1.15-1.65), depression (OR=1.76, 95%CI: 1.47-2.09), psychopathological symptoms (OR=1.69, 95%CI: 1.43-2.01) and poor sleep quality (OR=1.32, 95%CI: 1.06-1.65). High PA was insignificantly negatively associated with anxiety, depression, psychopathological symptoms and poor sleep. Low PA and high ST were independently and interactively associated with increased risks of mental health problems and poor sleep quality (p<0.05 for all).ConclusionInterventions are needed to reduce ST and increase PA in the lifestyles of young people. Future research should develop and measure the impacts of interventions and their potential consequences on sleep, health, and well being.

Highlights

Physical inactivity is the greatest public health problem of the 21st century [1]
High screen time (ST) was significantly positively associated with anxiety (OR=1.38, 95%CI: 1.15-1.65), depression (OR=1.76, 95%CI: 1.47-2.09), psychopathological symptoms (OR=1.69, 95%CI: 1.43-2.01) and poor sleep quality (OR=1.32, 95%CI: 1.06-1.65)
High physical activity (PA) was insignificantly negatively associated with anxiety, depression, psychopathological symptoms and poor sleep

Summary

Introduction

Physical inactivity is the greatest public health problem of the 21st century [1]. 31.1% of adults (15 years or older) are physically inactive. Inactivity rises with age and is increased in high-income countries [2]. The association of physical activity (PA) with mental health has been well established [3,4,5,6]. A growing body of literature indicates that PA can have beneficial effects on mental health [7,8,9] and sleep quality [10] in adolescents and young adults. A previous study has reported a decrease in depression of approximately 8% for each additional hour of exercise undertaken per week [11]

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Conclusion