Association Between Sleep Quality and Physical Activity in Saudi Arabian University Students

• Main Authors: Mahfouz MS, Ali SA, Bahari AY, Ajeebi RE, Sabei HJ, Somaily SY, Madkhali YA, Hrooby RH, Shook RN
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dove Medical Press 2020-10-01
• Series: Nature and Science of Sleep
• Subjects: sleep quality; psqi; physical inactivity; jazan
• Online Access: https://www.dovepress.com/association-between-sleep-quality-and-physical-activity-in-saudi-arabi-peer-reviewed-article-NSS

Mohamed Salih Mahfouz,1 Suhaila Abdalkarim Ali,1 Alanoud Yahya Bahari,2,* Reham Eissa Ajeebi,2,* Hadeel Jaber Sabei,2,* Sara Yahya Somaily,2,* Yusra Ahmed Madkhali,2,* Reem Hady Hrooby,2,* Roa’a Nasser Shook2,* 1Department of Family and Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Jazan University, Jazan, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; 2Faculty of Medicine, Jazan University, Jazan, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Mohamed Salih Mahfouz Email [e-mail]: Many studies have documented a strong association between poor sleep quality and physical inactivity. This study evaluates the association between poor sleep quality and physical inactivity among Jazan University students in Saudi Arabia.Methods: An observational cross-sectional study was conducted among undergraduate students at Jazan University. Cluster random sampling was used to select 440 students. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), and Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS) were utilized for data collection.Results: According to the PSQI results, the majority of respondents (63.9%; n = 281) reported having poor sleep quality. The majority of students (62.7%; n = 276) were also physically inactive. Based on DASS-21 criteria, the majority of students (53.4%) were stressed. Sleep quality differed significantly according to participants’ physical activity status (p = 0.0090). Among physically active participants, 43.9% reported having good sleep quality. Sleep duration, daytime dysfunctions, and global PSQI differed significantly according to levels of physical activity (p < 0.05 for all). Univariate analysis revealed that being physically active was significantly associated with good sleep quality (OR = 1.70, 95% CI 1.14– 2.54, p < 0.001). Multivariate logistic regression models also demonstrated a significant association between physical activity and good sleep quality (OR = 1.72, 95% CI 1.15– 2.56, p = 0.008).Conclusion: The majority of Jazan University students had poor sleep quality and were physically inactive. Evidence-based prevention and therapeutic strategies are needed to promote physical activity among university students.Keywords: sleep quality, PSQI, physical inactivity, Jazan