The associations of self-reported physical fitness and physical activity with sleep quality in young adults: A population-based study

Abstract

Statement of problemAlthough evidence suggests that physical activity and physical fitness are associated with sleep quality, little is known about these associations in young adults. Moreover, existing results have been inconsistent and need further exploration. Thus, the main purpose of the present study was to explore the associations of self-reported physical activity and self-reported physical fitness with sleep quality. MethodsTwo-thousand and one-hundred participants (age; mean ± SD = 20.87 ± 2.11 years; 50.9% of women) years were recruited. Physical fitness, physical activity and sleep quality were assessed by previously validated questionnaires. ResultsAfter adjusting for sex, self-rated health, body-mass index, socioeconomic status, smoking status, alcohol consumption, presence or absence of chronic diseases and psychological distress, ‘lower’ levels of self-reported physical fitness and ‘insufficient’ self-reported physical activity were associated with poor sleep quality. When entered simultaneously into the model, both ‘lower’ levels of self-reported physical fitness and ‘insufficient’ self-reported physical activity remained associated with poor sleep quality. ConclusionOur results show that “lower” levels of physical fitness and “insufficient” physical activity are associated with “poor” sleep quality in a large sample of young adults. Thus, special policies and strategies that enhance physical fitness and physical activity as protective factors are warranted.