Low leisure-time physical activity, but not shift-work, contributes to the development of sleep complaints in Swedish health care workers

Objectives: Regular physical activity (PA) can prevent sleep complaints and improve sleep among people with sleep disorders, whereas nocturnal shift work is linked with a higher risk of sleep problems. The present study examines the prospective relationship between PA, nocturnal shift work and sleep complaints. Methods: Data is based on 1406 health care workers (M=45.67 years, 88% women). Physical activity and sleep complaints were assessed via self-reports twice across a 2-year period. Results: Moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) was associated with a lower risk of reporting difficulties falling asleep at the 2-year follow-up. Both light PA (LPA) and MVPA were associated with a lower risk of feeling exhausted at awakening. The association between PA and these two sleep complaints persisted after controlling for covariates. No significant prospective association was found between PA and waking-up during nighttime. Shift work was not related to any of the sleep complaints. Conclusions: The findings suggest that regular PA is associated with fewer sleep complaints, independent of whether participants engage in nocturnal shift work. Promoting PA can be a promising strategy to prevent sleep problems.