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Increased self-reported and objectively assessed physical activity predict sleep quality among adolescents
Christin Lang1, Serge Brand, Anne Karina Feldmeth
1Institute of Exercise and Health Sciences, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
Physiology & Behavior
|July 16, 2013
Summary
Physical activity (PA) improves sleep quality in adolescents. Higher PA levels correlate with better sleep, though gender influences reported sleep complaints, with females experiencing more.
Area of Science:
- Sleep Science
- Adolescent Health
- Exercise Physiology
Background:
- Physical activity (PA) is widely believed to enhance sleep quality.
- Objective data linking PA and sleep in adolescents remains limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between physical activity and sleep in adolescents.
- To assess both subjective and objective measures of PA and sleep.
Main Methods:
- 56 vocational school students (mean age 17.98) participated.
- Subjective assessments via questionnaires.
- Objective assessments using accelerometers for PA and sleep-EEG for sleep.
Main Results:
- Higher PA levels were associated with longer total sleep time (TST) and fewer nocturnal awakenings (WASO).
- Self-reported PA predicted better sleep more strongly than objectively measured PA.
- Females reported more sleep complaints, and gender influenced the PA-sleep relationship, particularly for perceived sleep onset latency (SOL).
Conclusions:
- Increased physical activity is favorably associated with improved sleep restoration in adolescents.
- PA offers benefits for physical health, mental well-being, and sleep quality.
- Further research is needed to explore gender-specific effects on the PA-sleep connection.
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