The Current Situation Regarding Low-Intensity Physical Activity and Insufficient Sleep Among University Students in China, and Their Impact on Mental Health

Abstract Objective To systematically assess the status of physical activity (PA), sleep, and mental health among college students in China, analyze the factors influencing mental health, and provide a theoretical basis for developing intervention programs to improve college students’ mental health. Method We used stratified, cluster, and stage sampling methods. We surveyed 49,717 college students from 106 institutions of higher education across 31 provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the central government. The study used an online questionnaire covering students’ physical activity behaviors, sleep quality, mental health, health behaviors, and sociodemographic information. Results A total of 43,294 valid questionnaires were collected in this survey (a response rate of 87.1%), of which 25,289 were from female students (58.4% of the total). Among college students, 64.7% engaged in low-intensity physical activity (PA); the prevalence of insufficient sleep was 33.2%; the prevalence of poor sleep quality was 20.4%; and the prevalence of high-risk symptoms for depression and anxiety was 8.3% and 3.0%, respectively. Binary logistic regression indicated that high-intensity PA (OR = 0.854) and adequate sleep duration (OR = 0.826) were protective against the onset of depressive symptoms. Adequate sleep duration (OR = 0.985) was a protective factor against the onset of anxiety symptoms. Poor sleep quality was a risk factor for both depressive (OR = 1.156–1.373) and anxiety (OR = 2.625–6.240) symptoms. Conclusion Physical activity among college students is predominantly of low intensity, and the prevalence of insufficient sleep is high. High-intensity physical activity and adequate, high-quality sleep may help alleviate mental health issues among college students, and there appears to be an interactive effect between physical activity and sleep on the alleviation of depressive symptoms. Future research could explore targeted interventions that combine physical activity and sleep behaviors to improve college students' mental health.