Associations Between Self-Reported Sleep, Wellbeing and
Physical Activity in Irish Adolescents
Murphy, John, Sweeney, Mary Rose, O'Hagan, Anna DonnlaORCID: 0000-0001-7509-8960 and McGrane, BronaghORCID: 0000-0001-6891-7729
(2022)
Associations Between Self-Reported Sleep, Wellbeing and
Physical Activity in Irish Adolescents.
European Scientific Journal, 18
(8).
p. 1.
ISSN 1857-7881
Growing evidence suggests sleep plays an important role in the
development of healthy adolescents, with increased interest in the associations
between sleep and mental health. Higher duration and quality of sleep has been
suggested as a mechanism for increased wellbeing in adolescents. Cross
sectional data was collected from 5,661 Irish adolescents. 55% of Irish
adolescents reported meeting the guidelines for adolescents of 8-10 hours per
night. This was found to decrease with age. Higher duration and quality of
sleep was positively associated with wellbeing and negatively associated with
symptoms of anxiety and depression. A higher frequency of physical activity
was associated with longer duration and higher quality of sleep. 9-10 hours of
sleep was associated with the highest levels of wellbeing and lowest symptoms
of anxiety and depression. The relationship between physical activity and
increased wellbeing may be impacted by physical activity leading to higher
durations and quality of sleep. Higher frequencies of physical activity may
increase sleep quality and quantity thereby improving markers of mental
health in adolescents.