Mediating Effect of Perceived Stress on the Association between Physical Activity and Sleep Quality among Chinese College Students

Xiangyu Zhai, Na Wu, Sakura Koriyama, Can Wang, Mengyao Shi, Tao Huang, Kun Wang, Susumu S. Sawada and Xiang Fan
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Xiangyu Zhai: Graduate School of Sport Sciences, Waseda University, Saitama 359-1192, Japan
Na Wu: Key Laboratory for the Genetics of Developmental and Neuropsychiatric Disorders, Bio-X Institutes, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200030, China
Sakura Koriyama: Graduate School of Sport Sciences, Waseda University, Saitama 359-1192, Japan
Can Wang: Department of Physical Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
Mengyao Shi: Department of Physical Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
Tao Huang: Department of Physical Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
Kun Wang: Department of Physical Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
Susumu S. Sawada: Faculty of Sport Sciences, Waseda University, Saitama 359-1192, Japan
Xiang Fan: Department of Physical Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 1, 1-11

Abstract: Background: While physical activity has been reported to positively affect stress and sleep quality, less is known about the potential relationships among them. The present study aimed to investigate the mediating effect of stress on the association between physical activity and sleep quality in Chinese college students, after controlling for age, nationality, and tobacco and alcohol use. Participants: The sample comprised 6973 college students representing three Chinese universities. Methods: Physical activity, perceived stress, and sleep quality were respectively measured using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire—Short Form (IPAQ-SF), Perceived Stress Scale—10 Items (PSS-10), and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Results: Mediating effects of perceived stress on the association between physical activity and sleep quality were observed in males and females, with 42.4% (partial mediating effect) and 306.3% (complete mediating effect) as percentages of mediation, respectively. Conclusion: The results of this study may provide some suggestions that physical activity could improve sleep by aiding individuals in coping with stress and indicate that stress management might be an effective non-pharmaceutical therapy for sleep improvement.

Keywords: physical activity; sleep quality; perceived stress; mediating effect; Chinese college students (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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