Open AccessDaily physical activity and sleep in veterans: the role of insomnia severity
Author(s) -
Stephanie A. Robinson,
Erin D. Reilly,
Beth Ann Petrakis,
Renda Soylemez Wiener,
Carmen CastanedaSceppa,
Karen S. Quigley
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of behavioral medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.213
H-Index - 94
eISSN - 1573-3521
pISSN - 0160-7715
DOI - 10.1007/s10865-021-00260-8
Subject(s) - insomnia , sleep (system call) , health psychology , psychological intervention , sleep disorder , psychology , intervention (counseling) , sleep onset , clinical psychology , medicine , psychiatry , public health , nursing , computer science , operating system
Physical activity (PA) is suggested as an easily accessible adjunctive lifestyle intervention for insomnia. It is not clear if PA is equally beneficial across different levels of insomnia severity. The current study examined the relationship between daily PA (steps) and sleep (duration, efficiency, and quality) across the spectrum of insomnia severity. Multilevel models estimated day-to-night relationships between PA and sleep, and if insomnia severity moderated these relationships. Days with greater PA were associated with nights with longer sleep duration. This was moderated by insomnia severity; PA was associated with longer sleep that night in participants with mild insomnia and associated with less sleep in those with severe insomnia. PA was not associated with sleep efficiency or quality. PA is potentially an easily accessible and impactful intervention to promote sleep duration in participants who are experiencing less severe sleep disturbance. More complex, resource-intensive interventions may be needed as insomnia severity increases.