Sleep-related complaints and mental health symptoms among gym users: associations with chronotype and sociodemographic characteristics

Abstract

To examine sleep-related complaints and mental health symptoms among adult gym users and investigate their associations with chronotype, sociodemographic characteristics, and weekly exercise volume. This cross-sectional study included 227 adults aged 18–59 years who were attending gyms in Paraná, Brazil, who reported regular participation in gym-based exercise for at least 3 months. Participants completed the Pittsburgh sleep quality index, insomnia severity index, Berlin questionnaire, morningness–eveningness questionnaire, and depression, anxiety, and stress scale−21, in addition to sociodemographic and self-reported exercise questions. Nonparametric and categorical tests were used for group comparisons, and generalized linear models were used to estimate adjusted prevalence ratios. Poor sleep quality was observed in 81.5% of the participants. Depression and anxiety classifications differed according to sleep quality (p<0.001 and p=0.018, respectively), whereas stress did not (p=0.184). Depression classification showed a marginal association with chronotype (p=0.019), with a greater percentage of individuals in the moderate morning group (74.3%) than in the indifferent group (49.6%). In the adjusted analyses, age was inversely associated with poor sleep quality and insomnia, whereas body mass index was positively associated with poor sleep quality and sleep apnea risk. Moderate/severe depression was associated with poor sleep quality, and a moderate morning chronotype was associated with a lower prevalence of poor sleep quality. Participants reporting at least 2.5 h/week of exercise reported lower frequencies of moderate/severe depression and anxiety. Poor sleep quality was highly prevalent among gym users reporting regular participation in gym-based exercise. The outcomes varied according to chronotype, age, body mass index, and weekly exercise volume, supporting sleep and mental health screening in gym-based health promotion.