Differential Associations of Occupational and Total Physical Activity with Sleep Quality Among Adults in the United Arab Emirates: A Cross-Sectional Study

Physical activity is an important determinant of sleep health; however, its relationship with sleep quality may differ depending on the domain in which it occurs. This study examined the differential associations of occupational physical activity (OPA) and total physical activity (TPA) with sleep quality among adults in the United Arab Emirates. Data were collected from 1310 adults (February–April 2024) using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire, the Occupational Sitting and Physical Activity Questionnaire, and the Sleep Quality Scale, in an analytical cross-sectional design. Higher TPA was associated with better sleep quality at the bivariate level (r = −0.104, p < 0.001) but not independently after adjustment (β = −0.042, p = 0.246); this null adjusted finding was sensitive to how skewness in the activity data was handled. Occupational sitting was associated with poorer sleep quality only at the bivariate level, whereas occupational heavy labor remained independently associated with better sleep quality after adjustment (β = −0.080, p = 0.022). Standing, walking, and the TPA × sitting interaction were not significant. These findings indicate that the physical activity–sleep quality association depends on domain and support promoting overall activity alongside attention to occupational demands; however, given the small effect sizes, cross-sectional design, and unmeasured confounders, these implications should be regarded as preliminary rather than a basis for policy recommendations.