Effects of brisk walking and Tai Chi interventions on sleep quality in university students with insomnia

This study aimed to comparatively evaluate the interventional effects of two distinct modes of physical activity-brisk walking and Tai Chi-on subjective sleep quality among university students.

The study was conducted between December 2023 and June 2024 at an undergraduate institution in Anhui Province. A total of 75 university students with a Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) score >5 (indicative of sleep disturbance) were enrolled and randomly allocated in a 1:1:1 ratio to a Tai Chi group, a brisk walking group, or a control group. Over a 24-week period, the Tai Chi and brisk walking groups performed 60-min sessions three times per week, while the control group received no intervention and maintained their usual lifestyle and academic activities. Sleep quality was assessed using the PSQI before and after the intervention.

The mean age of the final analyzed sample was 18.77 ± 0.73 years. Following the 24-week intervention, statistically significant differences in PSQI total scores were observed among the three groups (P < 0.001). Both the Tai Chi and brisk walking groups exhibited significant reductions in PSQI scores following the intervention (Tai Chi group: 7.20 ± 1.63 vs. 4.52 ± 1.92; brisk walking group: 6.88 ± 1.65 vs. 4.42 ± 1.67; both P < 0.001). Within the Tai Chi group, significant improvements were noted in the subdomains of sleep duration, sleep efficiency, and daytime dysfunction (all P < 0.05). Similarly, the brisk walking group showed marked improvements in sleep quality, sleep duration, sleep efficiency, and daytime dysfunction (all P < 0.05). Furthermore, multiple linear regression analysis revealed that, compared to the control group, both the Tai Chi group (B = -1.889, P < 0.001) and the brisk walking group (B = -1.992, P < 0.001) were significantly associated with reductions in PSQI total scores, indicating that both exercise modalities effectively improved sleep quality.

Both Tai Chi and brisk walking are associated with significant reductions in global PSQI scores among university students with insomnia, indicating their potential as effective non-pharmacological interventions for improving sleep quality in this population.