Objective:We assessed for associations between physical activity levels, sleep quality, depression, and self-efficacy among college students, and explored these relationships.Design: A cross-sectional descriptive correlational study.Methods: :A total of 160 college students from a single university in South Korea participated in this study.Physical activity levels were measured using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire, sleep quality using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, depressive symptoms using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, and self-efficacy using the General Self-Efficacy Scale.Group differences were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance with Scheff's post-hoc test.Pearson's correlation analysis was conducted to assess for associations among variables.Simple linear regression analyses unadjusted for potential confounders were performed to evaluate relationships between physical activity level and outcome variables.Results: Sleep quality, depression, and self-efficacy differed significantly with variation in physical activity level (p<0.01).Physical activity level correlated negatively with sleep quality (r=-0.557)and depression (r=-0.276),and positively with self-efficacy (r=0.315).Regression analyses showed that the physical activity level associations with sleep quality (R=0.311),depression (R=0.076),and self-efficacy (R=0.099)were significant.Conclusions: Higher physical activity levels associated with better sleep quality and higher self-efficacy and associated inversely with depressive symptoms among college students.Given the cross-sectional design, single-site sample, and reliance on self-reported measures without adjusting for potential confounders, causal interpretations should be made cautiously.
Hyunhee Kim (Mon,) studied this question.