Association between sleep quality and physical fitness in female young adults

Sleep quality and physical fitness are critical for young adults' growth and health. However, no study has examined the association between sleep quality and physical fitness in young adults.

A total of 291 female college students (mean age: 19.3+/-0.6 years; mean height: 160.3+/-5.2 cm; mean weight: 52.2+/-9.8 kg), in the northern part of Taiwan, volunteered as subjects. For sleep quality evaluation, a valid Chinese version of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) was used. For physical fitness testing, a battery of field-based health-related fitness tests was conducted by well-trained instructors. Data was analyzed using independent t-tests and the Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient.

Subjects with poor sleep quality (P) (PSQI score >5) were more likely to have lower levels of muscular endurance, flexibility, and cardiovascular fitness. Significant correlations were also found between the global PSQI score and physical fitness performances in female young adults.

This study confirmed the high prevalence of P among young adults. Education materials should try to prevent young adults from developing poor sleep patterns and inactive lifestyles. Moreover, subjects with P should take better care of health problems from cardiovascular disease and musculoskeletal injury.