Physical Activity And Sleep Quality Differ In LGBTQ Compared To Non-LGBTQ College Students

Abstract

PURPOSE: Disparities in health outcomes exist for members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) community across the lifespan. Regarding sleep quality (SQ) specifically, obtaining adequate restorative sleep is a challenge for many individuals, especially college students. Although it is well established that habitual physical activity (PA) is associated with improved SQ in many cohorts, the relationship between PA and SQ among LGBTQ college students remains unstudied. This study aimed to compare PA and SQ, and their associations, in LGBTQ and non-LGBTQ college students. METHODS: Self-identified LGBTQ (n = 84; 20.6 ± 2.2 yo) and non-LGBTQ college students (n = 456; 20.8 ± 2.0 yo) completed online surveys: a) Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and b) International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) with subsequent MET-min/wk and days of resistance training (RT) being calculated. T-tests were used to compare SQ and PA levels of LGBTQ and non-LGBTQ students. Bivariate correlations explored relationships between SQ and PA within groups. RESULTS: LGBTQ students reported less aerobic PA (2226.1 ± 1478.9 vs. 2641.9 ± 1643.5 MET-min/wk) and less frequent RT (1.3 vs 1.9 days/wk) than non-LGBTQ students (all p < 0.05). Global PSQI scores indicated poor SQ for both LGBTQ and non-LGBTQ students (6.85 and 5.79, respectively); however, LGBTQ students reported 16.7% higher scores indicating poorer SQ (p < 0.05). Among LGBT students, higher aerobic PA was associated with improved SQ (r = -0.24, p < 0.05) whereas no association was observed in non-LGBTQ students (r = -0.05, p = 0.25). No associations between RT and SQ were observed in either group (both p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Disparities exist between LGBTQ and non-LGBTQ college students regarding self-reported PA and SQ. Although causality cannot be determined, our findings suggest that increasing PA could improve SQ, particularly among LGBTQ college students. Future research should explore the utility of PA to enhance SQ using more robust methodologies toward the end of informing effective health promotion programming.