How physical activity and nutrition are associated with sleep health among female nurses: A cross-sectional study

BackgroundInsomnia has become a severe issue among shift workers worldwide, particularly among female nurses.ObjectiveThis study explored the associations between physical activity and nutrition-related behaviors and insomnia among female nurses in Taiwan.MethodsWe used a cross-sectional design with convenience sampling. The study included 328 female hospital nurses with at least one year of work experience. We assessed sociodemographic and work data, insomnia level, physical activity, and nutrition-related behaviors using insomnia and health-promotion lifestyle scales. We used descriptive statistics, independent samples t-tests, and Pearson's chi-square tests to analyze the relationships with insomnia. We performed multiple logistic regression analysis to examine the associations of sociodemographic and work-related factors, physical activity, and nutrition-related behaviors with insomnia.ResultsSignificant differences between the insomnia and non-insomnia groups were observed in daily working hours, shift-work type, physical activity, and nutrition-related behaviors. In the adjusted model, working 10-12 h per day was associated with higher odds of insomnia (AOR = 2.21, 95% CI: 1.20-4.07), whereas higher physical activity scores (AOR = 0.92, 95% CI: 0.85-0.99) and healthier nutrition-related behaviors (AOR = 0.91, 95% CI: 0.84-0.98) were associated with lower odds of insomnia.ConclusionsThese findings suggest that physical activity and nutrition-related behaviors are practical, modifiable correlates of insomnia among female nurses, though causal inferences cannot be drawn due to the cross-sectional design. These results may inform future workplace-based strategies related to physical activity and nutrition to support sleep health among female nurses.