Physical Activity and Sleep Quality in Relation to Academic Performance among Indonesian Physiotherapy Students: A Cross-Sectional Study

Introduction: The lockdown due to the COVID-19 leads to changes in health behaviors, including physical activity and sleep quality. The consequence of insufficient sleep among most university students is a decline in their learning ability. Furthermore, insufficient sleep and lack of physical activity can have detrimental impacts on students' physical well-being, such as increased risk of chronic diseases. This study aimed to explore the association between physical activity, sleep quality, and academic performance in Indonesian undergraduate physiotherapy students. Methods: This study used a cross-sectional design. One hundred and thirty-four students (Female, aged 18-25) were recruited from the Bachelor Program in Physiotherapy at a university in South Sulawesi, Indonesia. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index was used to assess sleep quality. To assess physical activity level, The International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-SF) was used. Students' academic performance was evaluated based on the final grades of the selected course. Results: The majority (63%) of physiotherapy students had low physical activity levels. Almost all students (95.5%) suffered from poor quality of sleep. Sleep quality and academic performance were found to be positively correlated, indicating that students with good sleep quality performed better in school. It is noted that 64% of physiotherapy students with A and B grades had low physical activity. Conclusion: Academic performance is negatively correlated with poor sleep quality. High-achievement students typically have lower levels of physical activity. This study highlights the issue of insufficient sleep quality and the need for promotion of sleep hygiene.