The relationship between physical activity, sleep duration and depressive symptoms in older adults: The English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA)

Abstract

Research to date suggests that physical activity (PA) is associated with distinct aspects of sleep, but studies have predominantly focused on sleep quality, been carried out in younger adults, and have not accounted for many covariates. Of particular interest is also the reported relationship between physical activity and depression in older adults and as such, their associations with sleep duration. Here we examine the cross-sectional relation between physical activity and sleep duration in a community-dwelling sample of 5265 older adults from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing. We analysed the data using multiple regression, with physical activity as a categorical exposure and sleep duration a continuous outcome, as well as testing the interaction between physical activity and depressive symptoms, which was significant (p < 0.001). We therefore stratified our analyses by depressive symptomatology. Our main finding was that, in the group with elevated depressive symptoms only, physical activity was positively associated with sleep duration in models adjusted for all covariates (age, sex, wealth, ethnicity, smoking, alcohol consumption, BMI, long-standing illness) across low [B (mean difference in sleep duration) = 25.22 min, 95% CI = (3.72; 46.72)], moderate [B = 27.92 min, 95% CI = (6.59; 49.26)] and high [B = 31.65 min, 95% CI = (7.36; 55.94)] PA groups, in comparison to the sedentary group. However, we observed no relation between physical activity and sleep duration in respondents who reported no depressive symptoms, irrespective of physical activity level (p > 0.05). Our findings suggest that a potentially effective way of improving sleep in older adults with depressive symptoms is via physical activity interventions.

The Benefits of High Intensity Exercise on the Brain of a Drug Abuser

“…In the present research, we have showed that the high intensity exercise program was capable to improve sleep quality, quality of life (social domain and psychological domain) and reduce anxiety levels of the subject (see Table 1). It is known that alcoholic subjects may develop sleep quality problems and this is associated with depression (Garfield, Llewellyn, & Kumari, 2016) and negative impacts on physical and mental health (da Silva et al, 2016). Importantly, studies have reported improved sleep quality for those who regularly practice exercise (Driver & Taylor, 2000).…”

Trajectory of physical activity following total hip and knee arthroplasty: data from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA) cohort

“…The frequencies of responses for each of the four indexed catagorise [31] of physical activity were calculated at each assessment time-point. Prevalence of the four different physical inactivity levels with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated for each of the three assessment phases.…”

“…For each type of activity, participants responded either as being: very active (more than once a week), active (once a week), moderately active (one to three times per month), and inactive (hardly ever/never). We derived a summary index of physical activity by summing responses to the three physical activity items once dichotomized around the frequency cut-point of once a week or more often, as described by Garfield et al [31]. Through this, physical activity was analyses as (1) sedentary (mild exercise one to three times a month, no moderate or vigorous activity); (2) low (mild, but no vigorous activity at least once a week); (3) moderate (moderate activity more than once a week, or vigorous activity between once a week to one to three times a month); and (4) high (heavy manual work or vigorous activity more than once a week).…”

“…Through this, physical activity was analyses as (1) sedentary (mild exercise one to three times a month, no moderate or vigorous activity); (2) low (mild, but no vigorous activity at least once a week); (3) moderate (moderate activity more than once a week, or vigorous activity between once a week to one to three times a month); and (4) high (heavy manual work or vigorous activity more than once a week). This physical activity assessment method has been previously used to determine the level of physical activity participation undertaken by older people [31,32], and has demonstrated excellent convergent validity within this population [33].…”

Medication taking in people with hip and knee osteoarthritis: An analysis of the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing

“…Physical activity participation was determined through the self‐reported ELSA physical activity questionnaire (ELSA‐PAQ) (Hamer, Molloy, de Oliveira, & Demakakos, ). Participants were asked how often they engaged in vigorous, moderate or mild physical activity (Demakakos, Hamer, Stamatakis, & Steptoe, ; Garfield, Llewellyn, & Kumari, ). This method has been used to determine the level of physical activity participation undertaken by older people (Demakakos et al, ; Garfield et al, ), and has demonstrated excellent convergent validity within this population (Hamer et al, ).…”