The relationship between physical activity level and timing and sleep quality and hygiene in healthy individuals: a cross-sectional study

The current study focused on investigating the relationship between level and timing of physical activity and sleep quality and hygiene in healthy individuals. This cross-sectional study design recruited 175 participants (male: 98, 56%, female: 77, 44%, and BMI: 23.87 ± 3.92) aged between 18 and 65, 157 of whom were physically active and 18 of whom were physically inactive. The study recruited healthy participants from various sports facilities, fitness centers, and walking parks to ensure a diverse sample of physically active individuals in a metropolitan city. The study excluded people with sleep disorders, rheumatoid arthritis, heart or neurological problems, and those who had shift work. The study employed the Demographic Information Form, International Physical Activity Questionnaire (Short Form), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Scale, and Sleep Hygiene Questionnaire. A one-way MANOVA was employed to compare sleep quality and hygiene in different physical activity levels. A second MANOVA compared sleep quality and hygiene in different physical activity timing, including only the minimally active and very active participants. One-way MANOVA showed a significant difference F (4, 171) = 7.532, Pillai's trace = 0.161, partial eta squared = 0.081 between sleep quality and hygiene scores among inactive, minimally active, and very active participants. A post hoc analysis showed sleep quality was significantly better in minimal active (6.42 ± 2.55, p = 0.002, Cohen's d = 0.867) and very active participants (5.99 ± 2.29, p < 0.001, Cohen's d = 1.092) than inactive (8.61 ± 2.50) participants. Also, sleep hygiene was significantly better in minimal active (28.50 ± 6.74, p = 0.001, Cohen's d = 0.867) and very active participants (29.52 ± 6.56, p < 0.001, Cohen's d = 0.992) than inactive (36.05 ± 8.39) participants. The one-way MANOVA revealed no statistically significant differences in sleep quality and hygiene scores based on physical activity time. Our study showed that physically active individuals had significantly better sleep quality and hygiene scores, while there was no difference based on the timing of physical activity. Healthy individuals may be encouraged to participate in physical activity in the morning, afternoon, or evening to improve sleep parameters.