Physical Activity and Sleep Quality in Spanish Primary School Children: Mediation of Sex and Maturational Stage

Physical Activity Habits and Sleep Duration According to Gender: A Cross-Sectional Study of Elementary School Children

(1) Background: The main goals of this study were to describe the physical activity (PA) and sleep habits of 8-12-year-old children according to their gender and to evaluate the relationship between PA and sleep habits (i.e., duration and timing). (2) Methods: A total of 236 children (114 boys and 122 girls) completed the Physical Activity Questionnaire for Older Children (PAQ-C) and an ad hoc sleep habits questionnaire. (3) Results: Boys were more physically active than girls (2.62 ± 0.51 vs. 2.46 ± 0.48, p = 0.026) and enacted higher PA levels in school recess (3.82 ± 1.36 vs. 3.56 ± 1.38, p = 0.003), during the afternoon (3.37 ± 1.20 vs. 2.89 ± 1.12, p = 0.003), and during weekends (3.54 ± 1.20 vs. 3.18 ± 0.48, p = 0.009). Per sleep habits, boys had a significantly later bedtime (21:53 ± 2:08 vs. 21:34 ± 2:14, p = 0.009) and a significantly smaller total sleep duration (9.64 ± 0.86 vs. 9.89 ± 0.87 h, p = 0.023) than girls. No significant correlations between PA and sleep habits were found. (4) Conclusions: We found differences in the PA and sleep habits between school-age boys and girls. Institutions and entities should consider designing specific interventions to improve PA and sleep habits according to gender.

The Effect of Physical Activity on Sleep Quality Among Chinese College Students: The Chain Mediating Role of Stress and Smartphone Addiction During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Purpose

During the period of COVID-19 pandemic, the social restrictions and isolation exerted a significant impact on the sleep quality of Chinese college students. This study aims to delve into the influence of physical activity on the sleep quality of college students as well as the mediating roles of stress and smartphone addiction.

Materials and Methods

A cohort of 274 eligible college students (146 males and 128 females) were selected for the investigation. The International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short Form, Stress Perception Scale, Smartphone Addiction Scale, and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index were employed to assess the levels of physical activity, stress, smartphone addiction, and sleep quality among college students. For data analysis, descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and chained mediation effect tests were performed sequentially.

Results

The findings revealed: (1) a significant negative correlation between physical activity and stress, smartphone addiction, and sleep quality among college students (r = -0.216, p < 0.001; r = -0.224, p < 0.001; r = -0.259, p < 0.001); (2) independent mediating roles of stress and smartphone addiction in the relationship between physical activity and sleep quality; and (3) chained mediating effects of stress and smartphone addiction in the association between physical activity and sleep quality.

Conclusion

This study deepens our comprehension of how physical activity augments the quality of slumber, concurrently emphasizing that mitigating stress levels and alleviating smartphone addiction constitute effective strategies for preventing sleep issues among college students.

Sleep quality and subjective well-being in healthcare students: examining the role of anxiety and depression

Objective

Sleep issues, negative emotions, and health conditions are commonly co-occurring, whereas their associations among healthcare students have yet to be elucidated. This study aimed to examine whether anxiety and depression mediate the relationship between sleep quality and subjective well-being in healthcare students.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey was conducted among Chinese healthcare students (N = 348). A battery of paper-and-pencil questionnaires-the Sleep Quality Questionnaire (SQQ), World Health Organization-Five Well-Being Index (WHO-5), and Patient Health Questionnaire-4 (PHQ-4) were applied. Descriptive analysis with means (standard deviations) and counts (proportions), Spearman correlation analysis between the SQQ, WHO-5, and PHQ-4, and mediation analysis via structural equation models were performed.

Results

Correlation analysis revealed statistically significant associations between sleep quality, anxiety and depression, and well-being among healthcare students. Mediation analysis identified that poor sleep quality produced relatively low levels of self-reported well-being, which were entirely attributable to anxiety and depression.

Conclusion

Sleep quality was associated with subjective well-being, and this interrelationship was fully mediated by anxiety and depression. Interventions aimed at promoting sleep quality of healthcare students may contribute to promoting their well-being by reducing anxiety and depression.