Effects of physical activity and body mass index on sleep quality and depression among Turkish adults

Nowadays, Physical Activity (PA) and Body Mass Index (BMI) have a significant impact on the general health status of adults. Inadequate PA and the imbalance of body weight may lead to the deterioration of sleep quality and an increase in the risk of depression. A sedentary lifestyle and obesity can adversely affect the quality of life of adults by triggering psychological and physiological health problems. In this context, this study aimed to investigate the effects of PA and BMI on sleep quality and depression among Turkish adults.

In this study, the relational screening model was used. In the study, the purposive sampling method was used, and 1191 adults (Male: 864; Female: 327) aged 18-65 years using park and recreation areas (M_Age= 36.35 ± 2.52) voluntarily participated. In addition to the personal information form, participants answered the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, International PA Questionnaire Short-Form, and Beck Depression Inventory. The collected data were analyzed using IBM SPSS 23.0 software. Independent samples t-tests were performed to examine the gender-based differences in sleep quality and depression levels. Additionally, Univariate analyses were conducted to examine the differences in sleep quality and depression levels based on participants' PA levels and BMI. The significance level was set at p < .05.

Statistically significant differences were found in adults' sleep quality based on their PA levels and BMIs (p < .05). Additionally, statistically significant differences were found in adults' depression levels based on their PA levels and BMIs (p < .05).

Although increasing the PA level has a decreasing effect on depression levels, a normal BMI ensures that depression levels are at the lowest level. In addition, a significant decrease in sleep quality was observed as BMI increased. It can be said that as PA levels increase, sleep quality increases significantly in each BMI category.