What does this research mean for the field?

Short durations of light and vigorous physical activity are associated with increased likelihood of anxiety and depression symptoms in individuals with sleep disturbances. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.NOVEL_FINDING. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

What question did this study set out to answer?

This research aims to explore how different intensities of physical activity influence the relationship between sleep quality and symptoms of anxiety and depression.

February 28, 2026Open Access

Mental health and sleep quality across different physical activity intensities: A cross-sectional epidemiological analysis

Puntos clave

This research aims to explore how different intensities of physical activity influence the relationship between sleep quality and symptoms of anxiety and depression.
Conducted a cross-sectional study with 229 adults aged 42.12 ± 17.02 years.
Assessed sleep quality using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and anxiety/depression through the Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale.
Measured habitual physical activity intensities using accelerometers (light, moderate, vigorous).
Analyzed associations using binary logistic regression models, adjusting for age, sex, and socioeconomic status.
Sleep disturbance linked to lower time spent in light and vigorous physical activity, increasing anxiety risk by 7 times and depression risk by 5 times.
Significant associations found with light and moderate physical activity durations affecting anxiety symptoms.
No longer significant associations at higher durations of physical activity except for moderate intensity and anxiety symptoms.

Resumen

Anxiety and depression symptoms are closely linked to sleep quality in a bidirectional manner. While physical activity (PA) is known to improve both mental health and sleep outcomes, it remains unclear whether the intensity of PA influences the relationship between sleep quality and symptoms of anxiety and depression. This study aimed to assess the relationship between anxiety/depression symptoms and sleep quality across PA intensities. Cross-sectional study. Two hundred and twenty-nine adults (42.12 ± 17.02 years) participated in this study. Sleep quality and symptoms of anxiety and depression were assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale, respectively. Habitual PA intensities (i.e., light, moderate, moderate-vigorous, and vigorous) were assessed by accelerometers. Binary logistic regression models adjusted for confounding factors (age, sex, and socioeconomic status) and PA intensities were used to analyze the association between sleep quality and symptoms of anxiety/depression. The models indicated that individuals classified with sleep disturbance and who spend lesser time in light and vigorous PA are 7 (OR = 7.33; 95 %CI = 2.42–16.94) and 6 (OR = 6.39; 95 %CI = 2.34–17.46) times more likely to present symptoms of anxiety and 5 (OR = 5.61; 95 %CI = 1.32–23.80) and 4 (OR = 4.57; 95 % CI = 1.46–14.30) times more likely for depressive symptoms. However, these associations are no longer significant at longer duration of PA at light, moderate, and vigorous intensity, except for the association between sleep quality and symptoms of anxiety at moderate intensity of PA (OR = 4.93 95 % CI = 1.09–22.23). Short durations of light and vigorous PA appear to affect the relationship between sleep quality and symptoms of anxiety and depression. • Sleep quality is negative related to the presence of anxiety symptoms. • Sleep quality is negative related to the presence of depression symptoms. • Low level light PA influenced relationship of sleep disorders with mental health. • Low level vigorous PA influenced relationship of sleep disorders with mental health.

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