Relationship between physical activity and sleep quality in university students: a cross-sectional study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v68.116008Keywords:
Students, lifestyle, physical activity, sleep disorder, questionnaires and sur-veysAbstract
Introduction: The relationship between physical activity and sleep quality has garnered growing interest in university settings due to its impact on students’ overall well-being.
Objective: To analyze the relationship between physical activity and sleep quality among university students at a higher education institution.
Methodology: A quantitative, cross-sectional, and correlational study was conducted with 1,118 university students in Guayaquil, Ecuador. The PSQI and IPAQ-SF questionnaires were used to assess sleep quality and physical activity, respectively. Data were analyzed using Chi-square tests, Mann–Whitney U tests, Spearman’s correlation, and binary logistic regression.
Results: A total of 71.2% of participants exhibited poor sleep quality. no statistically significant associations were found between physical activity level and sleep quality (p > 0.05), although a non-significant trend toward a lower risk of poor sleep was observed in inactive students.
Discussion: These findings contrast with previous studies reporting benefits of exercise on sleep, suggesting potential mediation by variables such as mental health, chronotype, nutrition, and technology use. The need for comprehensive and personalized approaches in future research is emphasized.
Conclusions: Although no significant association was identified, the findings challenge simplistic explanations and support the design of multidimensional university-based interventions. The development of future longitudinal studies that incorporate intermediate variables and use objective measurement methods is recommended.
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Copyright (c) 2025 José Antonio Valle Flores, María Magdalena Rosado Álvarez, José Luis Hidalgo Torres, Guisella Villamar Torres, Stalin Jurado Auria, Karina Gisela Valenzuela Burbano, Carlos Elías Bazurto Hidalgo
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