Associations of Sleep With Sedentary Behavior and Physical Activity Patterns Across Pregnancy Trimesters

Influence of a Sedentary Behavior Intervention on Mood, Sleep, and Quality of Life Outcomes During Pregnancy: The SPRING Study

Background

Psychological symptoms and sleep disturbance are common during pregnancy. Observational data suggest that being physically active during pregnancy is related to better mood and sleep, but whether sedentary behavior reduction interventions provide similar benefits is untested. We aimed to determine whether reducing sedentary behavior across pregnancy improved psychological and sleep parameters.

Methods

Pregnant participants (n = 51) were allocated 2:1 to a sedentary behavior reduction intervention or control in their first trimester. Depressive symptoms, perceived stress, mood disturbance, nausea/vomiting quality of life, and sleep parameters were assessed with validated questionnaires in each trimester. Linear mixed effects regression examined differences between groups across pregnancy. Spearman correlations tested whether changes in sedentary time and physical activity were associated with changes in psychological and sleep outcomes without regard to group.

Results

Despite significant reductions in sedentary behavior (-0.84 hour/day), the intervention had no effect on psychological health outcomes. Further, intervention participants demonstrated significant worsening of sleep efficiency factor scores compared with control (p = 0.038). Small but significant correlations were found between changes in sedentary time and nausea/vomiting quality of life, and between changes in physical activity and nausea/vomiting quality of life, sleep duration, and sleep efficiency.

Conclusions

Reducing sedentary behavior during pregnancy did not improve psychological symptoms and may worsen sleep efficiency. Recommendations for future sedentary behavior reduction research in pregnancy include a larger sample with poorer psychological health and sleep at baseline, targeting reductions in mentally passive sedentary behavior, and including device-based sleep assessments.

Associations of the Social Determinants of Health and Lifestyle Components with Dietary Patterns in a Population of Reproductive Age

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES

Lifestyle factors, sociodemographic determinants, and dietary patterns play an important role in shaping genitors and fetal health. This study aimed to identify dietary patterns and to investigate the social determinants of health and lifestyle components associated with dietary patterns and body mass index (BMI) in a population of reproductive age.

METHODS

A cross-sectional online survey was conducted between March 2021 and February 2022. Self-reported data on age, weight, height, social determinants, lifestyle factors, and medical history were collected.

RESULTS

A total of 284 participants of reproductive age (≤40 years of age) were included in the analysis. We identified 3 main dietary patterns: (1) the Prudent pattern, associated with a higher probability of eating 3 meals/day, a longer eating jetlag and a higher probability of being a homemaker, unemployed, or a student; (2) the Western pattern, associated with eating after 9 p.m., a longer eating jetlag and negatively associated with the employment status (i.e., of being a homemaker, unemployed, or a student); and (3) the Unhealthy pattern, associated with being a smoker. Furthermore, using multivariate linear regression, we found that BMI was associated with living in rural area and adopting an Unhealthy dietary pattern. For the Unhealthy pattern, the adherence to it was higher in smoking men > smoking women, with a significant interaction between gender and smoking status (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

These data could be helpful in implementing personalized educational interventions in nutrition and lifestyle changes tailored for risk categories in order to improve health in people of reproductive age.

Patterns of physical activity, sedentary behavior, and sleep across pregnancy before and during two COVID pandemic years

BACKGROUND

Physical activity is recommended during pregnancy, and high sedentary behavior and poor sleep may increase the risk of pregnancy complications. Activity patterns and sleep were negatively impacted by the COVID pandemic in many segments of the population, but the impact of the pandemic on pregnant people is understudied. We aimed to compare patterns of physical activity, sedentary time, and sleep during pregnancy between a pre-COVID and a COVID-era cohort.

METHODS

Physical activity, sedentary time, and sleep in each trimester of pregnancy were compared between two parallel prospective observational cohorts using identical collection methods. Pre-COVID participants (n=111) were recruited in 2017-2019 and COVID-era participants (n=117) from 2021-2023. Physical activity and sedentary time were measured using the activPAL3 micro accelerometer, and sleep duration was self-reported. Between-cohort comparisons were conducted using linear regression for each behavior in each trimester. Within-COVID-era cohort linear regression analyses assessed whether activity patterns differed as pandemic-era restrictions were eased.

RESULTS

Participant demographics were similar between cohorts except for self-reported income. Adjusted mean moderate-to-vigorous physical activity was 57-77 min/week higher in each trimester in pre-COVID compared to COVID-era participants (p<0.001); adjusted mean sedentary time was 0.77-1.13 hours/day lower in each trimester (p<0.01) and sleep duration was 0.8 hours/day lower in the third trimester in the pre-COVID compared to COVID-era cohort (p<0.05). Within the COVID-era cohort, no significant within-trimester differences were detected across the pandemic years.

CONCLUSIONS

Pregnant participants during the COVID pandemic were less active and more sedentary than their pre-pandemic counterparts, and this trend was still detected years after the pandemic began. A more sedentary lifestyle during pregnancy may have health implications, and prenatal care providers should help pregnant people identify strategies to adopt an active lifestyle in the context of pandemic-era barriers.

Association between sleep quality and weight gain in pregnancy: a cross-sectional study

INTRODUCTION

There are grounds for the hypothesis that poor sleep quality, regardless of the pre-gestational nutritional status, is a risk factor for inadequate gestational weight gain.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the association between sleep quality and insufficient or excessive gestational weight gain in Brazilian pregnant women without gestational complications and monitored in public prenatal care units.

METHODS

This is a cross-sectional study nested within a cohort study that reviewed pregnant women's mental health, sleep, and nutritional outcome. Data collection was carried out from May 2018 to June 2019 through face-to-face and telephone interviews and consultation of pregnant women's medical records. Sleep quality was assessed using the Mini-sleep Questionnaire. The pregnancy weight gain was measured based on the Institute of Medicine's recommendations. Univariate and multivariate Poisson regression analysis was used for the two outcomes: insufficient or excessive weight gain, using pregnant women with adequate weight gain as the reference category. Associations were considered significant when p < 0.05.

RESULTS

The prevalence of severe sleep disorders was high: 63.4% of pregnant women experienced this condition. Severe sleep disorders enhanced independently the risk of insufficient gestational weight gain (PR = 2.40; 95% CI = 1.06-5.42, p = 0.035). There was no association between sleep disorders and excessive gestational weight gain.

CONCLUSION

The hypothesis that poor sleep quality influences gestational weight gain was confirmed. Severe sleep disorders, a highly prevalent condition, significantly increased the prevalence of insufficient gestational weight gain, yet it was not associated with excessive weight gain. Thus, educational actions should be included in the preconception and prenatal periods, in order to encourage the adoption of habits that favor sleep quality, an intervention that may have positive effects in reducing insufficient gestational weight gain.

Compliance with 24 h Movement Behavior Guidelines for Pregnant Women in Saudi Arabia: The Role of Trimester and Maternal Characteristics

BACKGROUND

Complying with 24 h movement behavior guidelines for pregnant women may prevent pregnancy complications. This single time point, cross-sectional investigation assessed compliance with the 24 h movement behavior guidelines in pregnant women in Saudi Arabia and examined the role of trimester and maternal characteristics.

METHODS

Pregnant women (n = 935; age = 30 ± 5.6 years; first trimester = 24.1%, second trimester = 33.9%, third trimester = 42.0%) self-reported their characteristics (nationality, region, degree, occupation, smoking status, health status, having children, previous birth). The short-version International Physical Activity Questionnaire, Sedentary Behavior Questionnaire, and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index Questionnaire measured moderate physical activity (MPA), sedentary behavior (SB), and sleep duration, respectively. Compliance with the 24 h movement behavior guidelines was reported using frequencies and percentages. Prevalence ratios compared the prevalence of compliance by trimester and maternal characteristics.

RESULTS

Approximately half of the participants did not comply with MPA or sleep duration guidelines (n = 524, [56.0%] and n = 424, [45.5%], respectively). In contrast, about two-thirds of participants (n = 648, [69.3%]) adhered to the SB guideline. Only 154 (16.5%) participants complied with all 3 24 h movement behavior guidelines. Pregnant women in their second trimester, living in Al-Ahsa Governorate, and currently smoking with a bachelor's degree were the most likely to comply with the guidelines.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings underscore the need for tailored efforts to promote healthy 24 h movement behavior guidelines for pregnant women in Saudi Arabia, especially early in pregnancy, while accounting for important maternal characteristics.

Associations of maternal sleep trajectories during pregnancy and adverse perinatal outcomes: a prospective cohort study

OBJECTIVE

Sleep problems are common in pregnant women and sleep is altered during pregnancy. However, the associations between sleep trajectory patterns and adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes are unclear. The current study aims to identify sleep trajectory patterns and explore their associations with adverse perinatal outcomes in a prospective cohort study.

METHODS

Pregnant women (N = 232) completed the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index each trimester during pregnancy in Tianjin, China. Perinatal outcomes were extracted from the hospital delivery records. Latent class growth analysis (LCGA) described the trajectories of sleep timing, duration, and efficiency. Multivariable linear regression and multivariable logistic regression were employed to evaluate associations between sleep trajectory patterns and perinatal outcomes.

RESULTS

Trajectories were identified for bedtime (early, 49.1%; delaying, 50.9%), wake-up time (early, 82.8% of the sample; late, 17.2%), duration (short, 5.2%; adequate 78.0%; excessive, 16.8%), and efficiency (high, 88.4%; decreasing, 11.6%). Compared with women in more optimal sleep groups, those in the late wake-up, excessive duration, and decreasing efficiency groups had babies with shorter birth lengths (β range, -0.50 to -0.28, p < 0.05). Moreover, women in the decreasing efficiency group had babies with lower birth weight (β, -0.44; p < 0.05). Women in the delaying bedtime group had greater odds of preterm delivery (OR, 4.57; p < 0.05), while those in the decreasing efficiency group had greater odds of cesarean section (OR, 3.12; p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Less optimal sleep trajectory patterns during pregnancy are associated with perinatal outcomes. Therefore, early assessment of maternal sleep during pregnancy is significant for identifying at-risk women and initiating interventions to reduce perinatal outcomes.

Study Design and Protocol of the Multisite Pregnancy 24/7 Cohort Study

Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and other adverse pregnancy outcomes (APOs) are associated with an increased risk of future maternal cardiovascular disease. Physical activity during pregnancy reduces the risk of these APOs, yet few meet physical activity guidelines during pregnancy. Little is known about the role of sedentary behavior or sleep in APOs, a critical gap in knowledge given these behaviors comprise the majority of a 24-hour day. To address this knowledge gap, the Pregnancy 24/7 cohort study (2020-2025) uses 2 devices for 24-hour activity assessment in each trimester of pregnancy to examine associations of sedentary behavior, sleep, and the 24-hour activity cycle (composition of sedentary behavior, physical activity, and sleep) with hypertensive disorders and other APOs. Participants (n = 500) are recruited from the University of Iowa, University of Pittsburgh, and West Virginia University in early pregnancy and followed through delivery. The activPAL3 micro and Actiwatch Spectrum Plus are worn in each trimester for 7 days of 24-hour wear to assess the 24-hour activity cycle. APOs are abstracted from medical charts. This study will provide critical data to fuel future research examining how modifying the 24-hour activity cycle in pregnancy can improve maternal health.

Delayed Sleep Midpoint Across Pregnancy Is Associated with Excessive Gestational Weight Gain

Background: Changes in sleep patterns and body weight occur during pregnancy, yet it is unclear whether sleep patterns are related to gestational weight gain (GWG). This study examined the relationship between maternal sleep across pregnancy and excessive GWG. Methods: Participants from the Michigan Archive for Research on Child Health (MARCH) cohort study, who had singleton births and provided information on fall-asleep and wake-up times during early (first or second) and the third trimesters, were included (n = 372). Changes in sleep duration and sleep midpoints throughout pregnancy were calculated. Prepregnancy weight and the last maternal weight before delivery were used to calculate GWG, which was categorized into groups (inadequate, adequate, and excessive). Poisson regression models were used to examine associations between sleep changes and excessive GWG, adjusted for age, race, gestational age, prepregnancy body mass index, income, fetus gender, physical activity, added sugar, and fruit and vegetable intake. Results: Excessive GWG was observed in 46.5% of women, and was more common among those with prepregnancy obesity (p < 0.001). Women who delayed sleep midpoint by 1 hour (or more) from the early trimester assessment to the third trimester experienced higher risk of excessive GWG (Risk ratio: 1.3; 95% confidence interval: 1.1-1.7). Single time points of sleep duration and sleep midpoint or changes in sleep duration were not related to GWG. Conclusions: Delay in sleep midpoint from early-mid pregnancy to the third trimester was associated with excessive GWG. Health professionals should consider changes in sleep patterns during pregnancy to identify those prone to excessive GWG.

Physical Activity, Sedentary and Sleep Phenotypes in Women During the First Trimester of Pregnancy

OBJECTIVES

Patterns of physical behaviors including physical activity, sedentary time, and sleep are unknown during pregnancy, but are likely to influence health outcomes. The purpose was to first identify "physical behavior phenotypes" from accelerometer-measured physical behaviors in pregnant women during the first trimester and secondly, to explore the associations between the identified phenotypes with demographic variables and body-mass-index (BMI).

METHODS

Data were from the Glowing Study (gov ID: NCT01131117), collected between 2011 and 2017 with accelerometer-measured physical behaviors of women in their 12th week of pregnancy. Latent class analysis was used to identify patterns of total physical activity, sleep time, sedentary time, and variation in physical activity. Maternal Body-Mass-Index (BMI). BMI and sociodemographic characteristics were compared between physical behavior phenotypes.

RESULTS

A total of 212 pregnant women were included in the study (mean age 30.2 years (range 22.1 to 42.4), mean days wear 4.3 (SD 0.7)). Three physical behavior phenotypes were identified from the four physical behavior constructs: low sedentary and stable activity (n = 136, 64%), variable activity (n = 39, 18%), high sedentary and low sleep (n = 37, 17%). BMI, race, and education were significantly different between the three phenotypes, with the low sedentary and stable activity phenotype having the lowest BMI and a higher percentage of white and college educated women.

CONCLUSIONS FOR PRACTICE

Total physical activity and physical behavior phenotypes during the first trimester were associated with early-pregnancy BMI, race, and education. Future research should examine whether these physical behavior phenotypes are associated with maternal and child health outcomes.

Adverse and Benevolent Childhood Experiences Predict Prenatal Sleep Quality

The objective of the study was to investigate whether adverse and benevolent childhood experiences were associated with trajectories of sleep quality throughout pregnancy. The study was conducted at obstetrics and gynecology clinics in the Rocky Mountain region of the USA. The participants of the study were pregnant individuals (N = 164). Sleep quality was measured with the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index at three gestational time points, and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and benevolent childhood experiences (BCEs) were assessed once. Multilevel models were conducted to examine the trajectory of sleep quality across gestation in relation to ACEs and BCEs. Sleep quality was similar in early to mid-pregnancy, with a worsening of sleep quality late in pregnancy, following a quadratic trajectory. Higher levels of ACEs predicted poorer prenatal sleep quality (b = 0.36, SE = 0.13, p = .004) throughout pregnancy, while higher levels of BCEs predicted better sleep quality (b = -0.60, SE = 0.17, p < .001) throughout pregnancy. Examination of ACEs subtypes revealed that childhood maltreatment predicted poor sleep quality (b = 0.66, SE = 0.18, p < .001), while childhood household dysfunction was not significantly associated (b = 0.33, SE = 0.21, p = .11). Associations remained after covarying for socioeconomic status and current stressful life events. Both adverse and benevolent childhood experiences predict sleep health during pregnancy. Prevention and intervention strategies targeting resilience and sleep quality during pregnancy should be implemented to promote prenatal health and well-being.

The association between physical activity and sleep during pregnancy: a systematic review

OBJECTIVES

Pregnant women frequently report experiencing poor sleep. Poor sleep during pregnancy is associated with negative health outcomes for both mother and baby. Physical activity (PA), including exercise may be an effective non-pharmacological strategy for improving sleep during pregnancy. The aim of this systematic review was to synthesize the current literature on the association between physical activity (including exercise) and sleep during pregnancy.

METHOD

A systematic online search was undertaken between 15-16 February 2022 in PsycINFO, CINAHL, Embase and PubMed. To meet the inclusion criteria articles had to; [1] be published in a peer reviewed journal; [2] consist of pregnant participants; and [3] be published in English. Studies were excluded if they were not published in English and did not investigate the association between a type of physical activity (including exercise) and a sleep variable during a trimester of pregnancy.

RESULTS

Ten studies were included in this review. Five of the ten studies used observational data collection measures and the remaining five used intervention based methods. Eight of the ten included studies found PA (including exercise) was positively associated with sleep during pregnancy.

CONCLUSION

In order to properly establish PA as a strategy to improve sleep during pregnancy, future research should aim to determine the PA characteristics most beneficial to sleep during pregnancy across each trimester.

Physical activity before and during pregnancy and maternal mental health: A systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies

OBJECTIVE

To examine the influence of physical activity before and during pregnancy on maternal mental health outcomes.

METHODS

Ten electronic databases were searched up to May 11, 2021. Studies of all observational designs (except case studies and reviews) were included, which contained information on the relevant population (women before and or during pregnancy), exposures (objective or subjective measures of physical activity), comparator (low or no physical activity), and outcomes (diagnosis and symptom severity of depression or anxiety, quality of life scores, stress and emotions).

RESULTS

Forty-four observational studies (N = 132,399) were included. 'Low' to 'very low' certainty evidence revealed that compared with low levels of PA during pregnancy, high levels of PA were associated with a reduced odds of developing prenatal depression (odds ratio (OR): 0.68, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.58 to 0.80) and anxiety (OR: 0.67, 95% CI: 0.54 to 0.83). We also found a reduction in the severity of prenatal depressive symptoms (standardized mean difference (SMD): -0.37, 95% CI -0.57 to -0.17), prenatal anxiety symptoms (SMD: -0.45, 95% CI -0.64 to -0.27), and prenatal stress (SMD: -0.33, 95% CI -0.55 to -0.11), concurrent with improved quality of life (SMD: 0.38, 95% CI 0.23 to 0.54). PA before pregnancy did not impact the outcomes of interest.

CONCLUSION

Physical activity during pregnancy is associated with a reduction in the odds and severity of prenatal depression and anxiety, as well as reduced stress and improved quality of life. PROSPERO registration number: CRD42020208469.

Maternal sleep during pregnancy and adverse pregnancy outcomes: A systematic review and meta-analysis

AIMS/INTRODUCTION

Sleep problems are important public health concern worldwide. We carried out a meta-analysis to quantitatively evaluate whether sleep duration was associated with pregnancy outcomes, and the associations were modified by important characteristics of studies.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Based on PubMed, Embase and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases, we searched for published literature related to maternal sleep duration and adverse pregnancy outcomes before 30 June 2021. We carried out risk of bias assessment, subgroup analyses and sensitivity analysis. The relative risks or odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were used to estimate the pooled effects.

RESULTS

A total of 5,246 references were identified through a database search, and 41 studies were included in the study. Pregnant women with short sleep duration had 1.81-fold (95% CI 1.35-2.44, P < 0.001) the risk of developing gestational diabetes mellitus. The association between short sleep duration and the risk of gestational hypertension, cesarean section, low birthweight, preterm birth and small for gestational age were not significant (P > 0.05). Furthermore, long sleep duration was significantly correlated with gestational diabetes mellitus (odds ratio1.24. 95% CI 1.12-1.36, P < 0.001) and CS (odds ratio 1.13. 95% CI 1.04-1.22, P = 0.004), whereas long sleep duration was not linked with gestational hypertension, low birthweight, preterm birth and small for gestational age (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Short/long sleep duration appeared to be associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes, specifically with an increased risk of gestational diabetes mellitus. Sleep should be systematically screened in the obstetric population.

Concurrent Agreement Between ActiGraph and activPAL for Measuring Physical Activity in Pregnant Women and Office Workers

INTRODUCTION

Current best practice for objective measurement of sedentary behavior and moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA) requires two separate devices. This study assessed concurrent agreement between the ActiGraph GT3X and the activPAL3 micro for measuring MVPA to determine if activPAL can accurately measure MVPA in addition to its known capacity to measure sedentary behavior.

METHODS

Forty participants from two studies, including pregnant women (n = 20) and desk workers (n = 20), provided objective measurement of MVPA from waist-worn ActiGraph GT3X and thigh-worn activPAL micro3. MVPA from the GT3X was compared with MVPA from the activPAL using metabolic equivalents of task (MET)- and step-based data across three epochs. Intraclass correlation coefficient and Bland-Altman analyses, overall and by study sample, compared MVPA minutes per day across methods.

RESULTS

Mean estimates of activPAL MVPA ranged from 22.7 to 35.2 (MET based) and 19.7 to 25.8 (step based) minutes per day, compared with 31.4 min/day (GT3X). MET-based MVPA had high agreement with GT3X, intraclass correlation coefficient ranging from .831 to .875. Bland-Altman analyses revealed minimal bias between 15- and 30-s MET-based MVPA and GT3X MVPA (-3.77 to 8.63 min/day, p > .10) but with wide limits of agreement (greater than ±27 min). Step-based MVPA had moderate to high agreement (intraclass correlation coefficient: .681-.810), but consistently underestimated GT3X MVPA (bias: 5.62-11.74 min/day, p < .02). For all methods, activPAL appears to better estimate GT3X at lower quantities of MVPA. Results were similar when repeated separately by pregnant women and desk workers.

CONCLUSION

activPAL can measure MVPA in addition to sedentary behavior, providing an option for concurrent, single device monitoring. MET-based MVPA using 30-s activPAL epochs provided the best estimate of GT3X MVPA in pregnant women and desk workers.

A Delphi Study to Identify Research Priorities Regarding Physical Activity, Sedentary Behavior and Sleep in Pregnancy

This study aimed to produce a list of the top 10 research priorities regarding physical activity, sedentary behavior, and sleep in pregnancy. Using the Delphi methodology, pregnant/postpartum individuals (N = 118), exercise professionals and healthcare providers (N = 55) listed up to 10 questions perceived as unanswered regarding physical activity, sedentary behavior, and sleep in pregnancy (Round 1). Respondents rated the proposed questions on a Likert importance scale (Round 2), and the sum of ratings received were totaled. Questions of priority regarding physical activity among pregnant/postpartum individuals (N = 67), healthcare providers and exercise professionals (N = 22) pertained to exercise prescription, impact of exercise on maternal and fetal outcomes and impact of exercise on pregnancy conditions, special population groups and clinical education and access to information. Sedentary behavior priorities included the impact of sedentary behavior on maternal and fetal outcomes, sedentary recommendations and exercise and sedentary positioning. Sleep research priorities included the impact of pregnancy on sleep, safety, sleeping aids and the effect of exercise on sleep. Pregnant/postpartum women, healthcare providers and exercise professionals prioritized questions that have in part been addressed by existing research, highlighting a need for improved knowledge translation from research to practice. They have also identified novel questions that warrant prioritization within future research.