Are Reallocations between Sedentary Behaviour and Physical Activity Associated with Better Sleep in Adults Aged 55+ Years? An Isotemporal Substitution Analysis

Abstract

Physical activity has been proposed as an effective alternative treatment option for the increasing occurrence of sleep problems in older adults. Although higher physical activity levels are associated with better sleep, the association between specific physical activity intensities and sedentary behaviour (SB) with sleep remains unclear. This study examines the associations of statistically modelled time reallocations between sedentary time and different physical activity intensities with sleep outcomes using isotemporal substitution analysis. Device-measured physical activity data and both objective and subjective sleep data were collected from 439 adults aged 55+ years. Replacing 30 min of SB with moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA) was significantly associated with an increased number of awakenings. Moreover, a reallocation of 30 min between light physical activity (LPA) and MVPA was significantly associated with increased sleep efficiency. Furthermore, reallocating 30 min of SB to LPA showed a significant association with decreased sleep efficiency. There were no significant associations of time reallocations for wake time after sleep onset, length of awakenings, and sleep quality. These results improve our understanding of the interrelationships between different intensities of movement behaviours and several aspects of sleep in older adults.

Effects of activities participation on frailty of older adults in China

“…Different types of activities may interact with each other, thereby in uencing frailty in older adults. Regular physical activity promotes relaxation and energy consumption [51], and has been proposed as an effective non-pharmacological treatment option to improve sleep in older adults [52]. Existing studies have shown that physical activity is associated with sleep quality in older adults [53], with those engaging in higher levels of physical activity exhibiting better sleep quality [54] and regularity [55].…”

Sedentary behaviour and sleep quality

“…Therefore, these substitutional relationships between SB, light-intensity physical activity (LPA), and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) need to be considered when examining how a particular behaviour may impact sleep quality. To the best of our knowledge, however, only one previous study has examined the associations of reallocating time between sedentary time and different physical activity intensities on sleep outcomes among adults aged 55 years and older 22 . There is a lack of studies exploring these substitutional relationships during middle-aged adulthood, a life stage when age-related health, including sleep quality, begins 23 .…”

Reallocation of time spent on sedentary behavior by time spent on physical activity reduces dynapenia in older adults: a prospective cohort study

“…12 A study found that low handgrip strength was independently associated with poor sleep quality in middle-aged and older adults. 13 Although the association between SB, PA, and sleep has been investigated in the literature, 14,15 studies examining the relationship between dynapenia and SB, PA, and sleep, especially their effects when assessing the reallocation of the exposure time of older individuals to these activities, are lacking. Therefore, investigating sleep hour time, MVPA, and SB in relation to dynapenia is relevant; an isotemporal substitution modeling shows the ability not only to control the effect between activities but also the effect of substitutions of time spent, reducing the heterogeneity of associations, thus facilitating public health recommendations.…”