Association of leisure-time physical activity and sleep quality among healthcare workers in China: a cross-sectional study
Abstract Background Growing evidence suggests that insufficient physical activity is a risk factor for poor sleep quality. However, few studies have investigated their relationship in healthcare workers. This study aims to fill this research gap by assessing the association between leisure-time phys...
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BMC
2025-06-01
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-23226-w |
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| author | Yuge Yan Yuqi Yang Yan Li Jing Guo Ping Zhu Buweimairiyemu Tuoheti Lu Chen Jie Gu Jiaoling Huang Jie Shen |
| author_facet | Yuge Yan Yuqi Yang Yan Li Jing Guo Ping Zhu Buweimairiyemu Tuoheti Lu Chen Jie Gu Jiaoling Huang Jie Shen |
| author_sort | Yuge Yan |
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| description | Abstract Background Growing evidence suggests that insufficient physical activity is a risk factor for poor sleep quality. However, few studies have investigated their relationship in healthcare workers. This study aims to fill this research gap by assessing the association between leisure-time physical activity and sleep quality among healthcare workers in China. Methods Our data came from a cross-sectional study conducted from October to December 2022. Using stratified random sampling, we collected behavioral and health data from 2,896 healthcare workers in Shanghai. We applied multiple linear and logistic regressions to assess the association between leisure-time physical activity and sleep quality measured by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), controlling for confounders. Results Among the 2,896 participants included in the analytical sample, the prevalence of sleep disturbance was 62.88% and the average PSQI score was 6.94 (SD = 3.45). Sleep disturbance was associated with nurses and other occupations, chronic diseases, stress, and increased workload. Leisure-time physical activity (OR = 0.770 (0.651, 0.911), p = 0.002) was a significant protective factor of sleep disturbance. Conclusions Leisure-time physical activity may be a protective factor for sleep quality among healthcare workers in China. Actionable policies and interventions, such as paid time off and subsidized gym membership, should be invested to increase physical activity among Chinese healthcare workers and, ultimately, improve their sleep quality and overall health. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-9dc6bb876f8441bbacfb552d7edf169d |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-9dc6bb876f8441bbacfb552d7edf169d2025-08-20T02:31:09ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582025-06-012511910.1186/s12889-025-23226-wAssociation of leisure-time physical activity and sleep quality among healthcare workers in China: a cross-sectional studyYuge Yan0Yuqi Yang1Yan Li2Jing Guo3Ping Zhu4Buweimairiyemu Tuoheti5Lu Chen6Jie Gu7Jiaoling Huang8Jie Shen9School of Public Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineShanghai Institute of Infectious Disease and Biosecurity, Fudan UniversitySchool of Public Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineSchool of Social Development and Public Policy, Fudan UniversitySchool of Public Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineSchool of Public Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineMedical Records and Statistics Office, Shanghai Sixth People’s HospitalZhongshan Hospital International Medical CenterSchool of Public Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineMedical Records and Statistics Office, Shanghai Sixth People’s HospitalAbstract Background Growing evidence suggests that insufficient physical activity is a risk factor for poor sleep quality. However, few studies have investigated their relationship in healthcare workers. This study aims to fill this research gap by assessing the association between leisure-time physical activity and sleep quality among healthcare workers in China. Methods Our data came from a cross-sectional study conducted from October to December 2022. Using stratified random sampling, we collected behavioral and health data from 2,896 healthcare workers in Shanghai. We applied multiple linear and logistic regressions to assess the association between leisure-time physical activity and sleep quality measured by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), controlling for confounders. Results Among the 2,896 participants included in the analytical sample, the prevalence of sleep disturbance was 62.88% and the average PSQI score was 6.94 (SD = 3.45). Sleep disturbance was associated with nurses and other occupations, chronic diseases, stress, and increased workload. Leisure-time physical activity (OR = 0.770 (0.651, 0.911), p = 0.002) was a significant protective factor of sleep disturbance. Conclusions Leisure-time physical activity may be a protective factor for sleep quality among healthcare workers in China. Actionable policies and interventions, such as paid time off and subsidized gym membership, should be invested to increase physical activity among Chinese healthcare workers and, ultimately, improve their sleep quality and overall health.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-23226-wPhysical activitySleep qualityHealthcare workerChinaCross-sectional study |
| spellingShingle | Yuge Yan Yuqi Yang Yan Li Jing Guo Ping Zhu Buweimairiyemu Tuoheti Lu Chen Jie Gu Jiaoling Huang Jie Shen Association of leisure-time physical activity and sleep quality among healthcare workers in China: a cross-sectional study BMC Public Health Physical activity Sleep quality Healthcare worker China Cross-sectional study |
| title | Association of leisure-time physical activity and sleep quality among healthcare workers in China: a cross-sectional study |
| title_full | Association of leisure-time physical activity and sleep quality among healthcare workers in China: a cross-sectional study |
| title_fullStr | Association of leisure-time physical activity and sleep quality among healthcare workers in China: a cross-sectional study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Association of leisure-time physical activity and sleep quality among healthcare workers in China: a cross-sectional study |
| title_short | Association of leisure-time physical activity and sleep quality among healthcare workers in China: a cross-sectional study |
| title_sort | association of leisure time physical activity and sleep quality among healthcare workers in china a cross sectional study |
| topic | Physical activity Sleep quality Healthcare worker China Cross-sectional study |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-23226-w |
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