Physical Activity and Insomnia Symptoms Over 10 Years in a U.S. National Sample of Late-Middle-Age and Older Adults: Age Matters

Abstract

Research suggests that physical activity may influence sleep, yet more research is needed before it can be considered a frontline treatment for insomnia. Less is known about how this relationship is moderated by age. Using multilevel modeling, we examined self-reported physical activity and insomnia symptoms in 18,078 respondents from the U.S. nationally representative Health and Retirement Study (2004-2014). The mean baseline age was 64.7 years, with 53.9% female. Individuals who reported more physical activity (B = -0.005, p < .001) had fewer insomnia symptoms. Over 10 years, the respondents reported fewer insomnia symptoms at times when they reported more physical activity than was average for them (B = -0.003, p < .001). Age moderated this relationship (B = 0.0002, p < .01). Although modest, these findings concur with the literature, suggesting moderate benefits of physical activity for sleep in older adults. Future research should aim to further elucidate this relationship among adults at advanced ages.

Keywords: Health and Retirement Study; exercise; multilevel models and sleep.

Figure 1.

Flowchart of sample selection at baseline in 2004

Figure 2.

Age as a Moderator of the Physical Activity and Insomnia Symptoms Association Note: Late middle age and older adults are indicated by 1 SD below and above mean age of 64 (baseline).