Li-Jung Chen *, Kenneth R. Fox **, Wen-Jung Sun ***, Ming-Kuei Lo **** and Po-Wen Ku *****
(*) National Taiwan University of Physical Education and Sport, Taiwan
(**) Centre for Exercise, Nutrition and Health Sciences, University of Bristol, and School of Sport and Exercise Sciences, University of Birmingham, UK
(***) Family Medicine Department, Taipei City Hospital Zhongxing Branch, Taiwan
(****) Department of Leisure and Recreation Management at Nan Kei University of Technology, Taiwan
(*****) National Changhua University of Education, and Community Medicine Research Center, National Yang-Ming University, Taiwan
Citation
Chen, L., R. Fox, K., Sun, W., Lo, M., Ku, P. (2014). Prospective associations between different categories of physical activity and insomnia in older adults. International Journal of Sport Psychology, 45(3), 173-186. doi:10.7352/IJSP.2014.45.173
Abstract
This 10-year follow-up study examined the associations between different categories of physical activity and insomnia among Taiwanese older adults aged 65 years and older. Data were collected in 1999 (n=1810) and 2009 (n=1128) by faceto- face interviews. Physical activity was evaluated with the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly. Totals for each category of activity were divided by the mean into low (Lo) and high (Hi) groups. A score greater than 5 on the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index was used to define insomnia. The results showed that leisure-time activity was a significant predictor of incident insomnia. The risk of incident insomnia was increased in the Lo-Lo group (AOR: 9.96, 95% CI=2.25-44.01), Hi-Lo (AOR: 8.73, 95% CI=1.90-40.18), and Lo-Hi group (AOR: 5.58, 95% CI=1.12-27.72) when compared to the Hi-Hi group. This study suggests that remaining at high levels of leisure-time activity reduces the risk of subsequent insomnia in older adults.
Keywords: Prospective cohort longitudinal study; physical activity, sleep disorder; sleep problem, elderly