Levels of physical activity and sleep patterns in university students: The effect on mood and daily life activities

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess the effect of sleep patterns and levels of physical activity on depression and daily life activities in university students. An identification form, the International Physical Activity Questionnaire - Short Form (IPAQ-SF), the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and the Nottingham Health Profile (NHP) were used to collect the data. The mean age of the university students in the research was 20.37 ± 1.85 years. We found that, as the Part I subareas of the NHP (such as pain, emotional reactions, sleep, social isolation, physical activity, and energy) and the Part II scores increased, the PSQI score also increased (p <.05) and, in turn, the increase of the PSQI score brought to a proportional increase of the BDI score too (p <.05; r =.393). The correlation between variables was found to be low but statistically significant. As a result, periodical examinations on physical activity, sleep, depression, and daily living activities in university students should be highly recommended and students should be supported on these issues.