Understanding The Relationship Between Physical Activity and Sleep Behavior on Anxiety in College Age Students

BACKGROUND: Studies have shown that physical activity is beneficial to both sleep quality and anxiety levels of individuals. Sleep quality and anxiety levels have also been shown to be interrelated. In general, college students are already at risk for developing state anxiety and poor sleep quality due to the college environment, and the students today have the added stressor of the global Coronavirus pandemic. PURPOSE: Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate how physical activity levels and quality of sleep relate to the state anxiety levels among college students during the Coronavirus pandemic. METHODS: Full-time undergraduate students at the University of Lynchburg volunteered to participate in this study. Demographic information was self-reported including their height, weight, age, sex, ethnicity, class, college classification of their major, course delivery type, residential status, athletic status, and COVID-19 status. Information about physical activity status was collected using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) and the Godin Leisure Time Exercise Questionnaire (GLTEQ). State anxiety was assessed using the Anxiety Symptoms Questionnaire (ASQ). Sleep quality was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI)