Sleep quality, physical activity, and perceived academic performance of Italian adolescents
Bibliographic Data
Background Sleep disturbances are highly prevalent during adolescence and may negatively affect health and academic functioning. During the COVID-19 pandemic, changes in daily routines and lifestyle behaviors may have further impacted sleep patterns and physical activity levels in this population. Although associations between physical activity, sleep, and academic performance have been previously explored, evidence remains limited in specific sociocultural contexts, such as among Italian adolescents during the pandemic. The present study aimed to evaluate sleep quality using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and to examine its associations with self-perceived academic performance and weekly time dedicated to physical activity among Italian adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted between May and July 2020 with adolescent students (12–20 years) from public and private schools in the Lazio region, Italy, recruited through convenience sampling. Data were collected via a self-administered online questionnaire (Google Forms). Sleep quality was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI, Italian version). Physical activity and academic performance were evaluated through self-reported measures, including weekly activity duration (minutes/week) and perceived school performance. Descriptive statistics were calculated, and inferential analyses included chi-square or Fisher’s exact tests, Pearson or Spearman correlations, and binary logistic regression models controlling for sex and age to estimate odds ratios (95% CI). Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. The study was approved by an ethics committee. Results A total of 437 adolescents (50.8% girls), with a mean age of 15.9 ± 1.37 years, were included. Based on the PSQI, 64.5% of participants presented poor sleep quality. Mean physical activity was 276.6 ± 217.6 min/week, and 67.9% were classified as physically active. Most adolescents reported good or excellent academic performance. Weekly physical activity time was negatively correlated with PSQI total score ( r = −0.104; p = 0.04) and sleep latency ( r = −0.102; p = 0.03). In the adjusted logistic regression model, physical activity was not significantly associated with sleep quality (OR 1.49; 95% CI 0.95–2.33; p = 0.079), while sex remained significantly associated. Conclusion Italian adolescents presented a high prevalence of poor sleep quality during the COVID-19 pandemic. Although physical activity showed weak correlations with sleep parameters, it was not independently associated with sleep quality after adjustment. These findings highlight the importance of considering potential confounding factors when examining sleep-related behaviors in adolescents. Public policies that focus on sleep quality for adolescents are recommended, since it is possible to observe that several factors can affect adolescent sleep
Descriptive statistics · Logistic regression · Multilevel model · Odds · Odds ratio · Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index · Public health · COVID-19 and Mental Health · Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet · Sleep and related disorders
Sedentary Behavior Research Network (SBRN) – Terminology Consensus Project process and outcome
The association between social media use and sleep disturbance among young adults
School Closures During Social Lockdown and Mental Health, Health Behaviors, and Well-being Among Children and Adolescents During the First Covid-19 Wave
Information bias in health research
National Sleep Foundation’s updated sleep duration recommendations
WHO guidelines on physical activity and sedentary behaviour for children and adolescents aged 5–17 years
Physical Activity and Cognitive Functioning of Children
Changes in physical activity and sedentary behaviours from before to during the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown
Physically active lessons as physical activity and educational interventions
The Effect of Covid-19 on Youth Mental Health
Validity of the Italian Version of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI)
Short- and long-term health consequences of sleep disruption
Public responses to the novel 2019 coronavirus (2019‐nCoV) in Japan
The Pittsburgh sleep quality index
Global trends in insufficient physical activity among adolescents
World Health Organization 2020 guidelines on physical activity and sedentary behaviour
Impact of Problematic Smartphone Use on Mental Health of Adolescent Students
Psychological Symptoms and Behavioral Changes in Children and Adolescents During the Early Phase of Covid-19 Quarantine in Three European Countries
Physical Activity among Italian Adolescents
Mental Health in Young Adult University Students During Covid-19 Lockdown
Associations between Sleep and Mental Health in Adolescents
Children and Adolescent’s Perception of Media Device Use Consequences
Sleep, cognition, and behavioral problems in school-age children
| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |