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

Click name to view affiliation

Amanda Sonnega
Search for other papers by Amanda Sonnega in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
Amanda Leggett
Search for other papers by Amanda Leggett in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
Renee Pepin
Search for other papers by Renee Pepin in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
, and
Shervin Assari
Search for other papers by Shervin Assari in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
Restricted access

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.

Sonnega is with the Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI. Leggett is with the School of Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI. Pepin is with the Department of Biological Sciences, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH. Assari is with the Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, Los Angeles, CA.

Sonnega (asonnega@umich.edu) is corresponding author.
  • Collapse
  • Expand
  • Ancoli-Israel, S., & Cooke, J.R. (2005). Prevalence and comorbidity of insomnia and effect on functioning in elderly populations. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 53(7), S264S271. doi:10.1111/j.1532-5415.2005.53392.x

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Baron, K.G., Reid, K.J., & Zee, P.C. (2013). Exercise to improve sleep in insomnia: Exploration of the bidirectional effects. Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, 9(8), 819824. PubMed ID: 23946713 doi:10.5664/jcsm.2930

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Bauer, D.J., & Curran, P.J. (2005). Probing interactions in fixed and multilevel regression: Inferential and graphical techniques. Multivariate Behavioral Research, 40(3), 373400. PubMed ID: 26794689 doi:10.1207/s15327906mbr4003_5

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Bjornsdottir, E., Keenan, B.T., Eysteinsdottir, B., Arnardottir, E.S., Janson, C., Gislason, T., . . . Benediktsdottir, B. (2015). Quality of life among untreated sleep apnea patients compared with the general population and changes after treatment with positive airway pressure. Journal of Sleep Research, 24(3), 328338. PubMed ID: 25431105 doi:10.1111/jsr.12262

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Brenner, P.S.& DeLamater, J.D. (2014). Social desirability bias in self-reports of physical activity: Is an exercise identity the culprit? Social Indicators Research, 117(2), 489504. doi:10.1007/s11205-013-0359-y

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Bugliari, D., Campbell, N., Chan, C., Hayden, O., Hurd, M., & Main, R. (2016). RAND HRS data documentation, version N. University of Michigan Institute for Social Research Health and Retirement Study. Retrieved from https://www.rand.org/well-being/social-and-behavioral-policy/centers/aging/dataprod/hrs-data.html

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Buman, M.P., Hekler, E.B., Bliwise, D.L., & King, A.C. (2011a). Exercise effects on night-to-night fluctuations in self-rated sleep among older adults with sleep complaints. Journal of Sleep Research, 20(1, Pt. 1), 2837. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2869.2010.00866.x

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Buman, M.P., Hekler, E.B., Bliwise, D.L., & King, A.C. (2011b). Moderators and mediators of exercise-induced objective sleep improvements in midlife and older adults with sleep complaints. Health Psychology, 30(5), 579587. doi:10.1037/a0024293

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Buman, M.P., & King, A.C. (2010). Exercise as a treatment to enhance sleep. American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine, 4(6), 500514. doi:10.1177/1559827610375532

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Campanelli, C.M. (2012). American Geriatrics Society updated Beers Criteria for potentially inappropriate medication use in older adults: The American Geriatrics Society 2012 Beers Criteria Update Expert Panel. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 60(4), 616631. doi:10.1111/j.1532-5415.2012.03923.x

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Chen, J.H., Waite, L., Kurina, L.M., Thisted, R.A., McClintock, M., & Lauderdale, D.S. (2015). Insomnia symptoms and actigraph-estimated sleep characteristics in a nationally representative sample of older adults. The Journals of Gerontology, Series A: Biological Sciences & Medical Sciences, 70(2), 185192. PubMed ID: 25199910 doi:10.1093/gerona/glu144

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Clarke, P., & Gallagher, N.A. (2013). Optimizing mobility in later life: The role of the urban built environment for older adults aging in place. Journal of Urban Health: Bulletin of the New York Academy of Medicine, 90(6), 9971009. doi:10.1007/s11524-013-9800-4

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • DiPietro, L. (2001). Physical activity in aging: Changes in patterns and their relationship to health and function. The Journals of Gerontology, Series A: Biological Sciences & Medical Sciences, 56A, 1322. doi:10.1093/gerona/56.suppl_2.13

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Dzierzewski, J.M., Buman, M.P., Giacobbi, P.R., Roberts, B.L., Aiken-Morgan, A.T., Marsiske, M., & McCrae, C.S. (2014). Exercise and sleep in community-dwelling older adults: Evidence for a reciprocal relationship. Journal of Sleep Research, 23(1), 6168. PubMed ID: 23980920 doi:10.1111/jsr.12078

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Freedman, V.A., & Spillman, B.C. (2016). Active life expectancy in the older US population, 1982–2011: Differences between blacks and whites persisted. Health Affairs, 35(8), 13511358. PubMed ID: 27503957 doi:10.1377/hlthaff.2015.1247

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Grafova, I.B., Freedman, V.A., Kumar, R., & Rogowski, J. (2008). Neighborhoods and obesity in later life. American Journal of Public Health, 98(11), 20652071. PubMed ID: 18799770 doi:10.2105/AJPH.2007.127712

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Hartescu, I., Morgan, K., & Stevinson, C.D. (2015). Increased physical activity improves sleep and mood outcomes in inactive people with insomnia: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of Sleep Research, 24(5), 526534. PubMed ID: 25903450 doi:10.1111/jsr.12297

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • He, X.Z., & Baker, D.W. (2005). Differences in leisure-time, household, and work-related physical activity by race, ethnicity, and education. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 20(3), 259266. PubMed ID: 15836530 doi:10.1111/j.1525-1497.2005.40198.x

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Heeringa, S.G., West, B.T., & Berglund, P.A. (2017). Applied survey data analysis (2nd ed.). Boca Raton, FL: Chapman and Hall/CRC.

  • Hjorth, M.F., Chaput, J.P., Damsgaard, C.T., Dalskov, S.M., Michaelsen, K.F., Tetens, I., & Sjodin, A. (2012). Measure of sleep and physical activity by a single accelerometer: Can a waist-worn Actigraph adequately measure sleep in children? Sleep and Biological Rhythms, 10(4), 328335. doi:10.1111/j.1479-8425.2012.00578.x

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Hoffman, L., & Stawski, R.S. (2009). Persons as contexts: Evaluating between-person and within-person effects in longitudinal analysis. Research in Human Development, 6(2–3), 97120. doi:10.1080/15427600902911189

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Holfeld, B., & Ruthig, J.C. (2014). A longitudinal examination of sleep quality and physical activity in older adults. Journal of Applied Gerontology, 33(7), 791807. PubMed ID: 25231754 doi:10.1177/0733464812455097

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Kaufmann, C.N., Canham, S.L., Mojtabai, R., Gum, A.M., Dautovich, N.D., Kohn, R., & Spira, A.P. (2013). Insomnia and health services utilization in middle-aged and older adults: Results from the Health and Retirement Study. The Journals of Gerontology, Series A: Biological Sciences & Medical Sciences, 68, 15121517. doi:10.1093/gerona/glt050

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • King, A.C., Oman, R.F., Brassington, G.S., Bliwise, D.L., & Haskell, W.L. (1997). Moderate-intensity exercise and self-rated quality of sleep in older adults: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of the American Medical Association, 277(1), 3237. PubMed ID: 8980207 doi:10.1001/jama.1997.03540250040029

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Kline, C.E. (2014). The bidirectional relationship between exercise and sleep: Implications for exercise adherence and sleep improvement. American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine, 8(6), 375379. PubMed ID: 25729341 doi:10.1177/1559827614544437

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Kredlow, M.A., Capozzoli, M.C., Hearon, B.A., Calkins, A.W., & Otto, M.W. (2015). The effects of physical activity on sleep: A meta-analytic review. Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 38(3), 427449. PubMed ID: 25596964 doi:10.1007/s10865-015-9617-6

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Leggett, A., Pepin, R., Sonnega, A., & Assari, S. (2016). Predictors of new onset sleep medication and treatment utilization among older adults in the United States. The Journals of Gerontology, Series A: Biological Sciences & Medical Science, 71(7), 954960. doi:10.1093/gerona/glv227

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Littell, R., Milliken, G., Stroup, W., & Wolfinger, R. (1996). SAS systems for mixed models. Cary, NC: SAS Institute, Inc.

  • Loprinzi, P.D., & Cardinal, B.J. (2011). Association between objectively-measured physical activity and sleep, NHANES 2005–2006. Mental Health and Physical Activity, 4(2), 6569. doi:10.1016/j.mhpa.2011.08.001

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Mander, B.A., Winer, J.R., & Walker, M.P. (2017). Sleep and human aging. Neuron, 94(1), 1936. PubMed ID: 28384471 doi:10.1016/j.neuron.2017.02.004

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Milanović, Z., Pantelić, S., Trajković, N., Sporiš, G., Kostić, R., & James, N. (2013). Age-related decrease in physical activity and functional fitness among elderly men and women. Clinical Interventions in Aging, 8, 549556. doi:10.2147/CIA.S44112

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • National Sleep Foundation. (2003). 2003 sleep in America poll. Author. doi:10.1016/j.sleh.2015.04.002

  • National Sleep Foundation. (2013). Aging and sleeping. Author. Retireved from https://sleepfoundation.org/sleep-topics/aging-and-sleep

  • Ohayon, M.M., Carskadon, M.A., Guilleminault, C., & Vitiello, M.V. (2004). Meta-analysis of quantitative sleep parameters from childhood to old age in healthy individuals: Developing normative sleep values across the human lifespan. Sleep, 27(7), 12551273. PubMed ID: 15586779 doi:10.1093/sleep/27.7.1255

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Raudenbush, S.W., & Bryk, A.S. (2002). Hierarchical linear models: Applications and data analysis methods (Vol. 1). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Reid, K.J., Baron, K.G., Lu, B., Naylor, E., Wolfe, L., & Zee, P.C. (2010). Aerobic exercise improves self-reported sleep and quality of life in older adults with insomnia. Sleep Medicine, 11(9), 934940. PubMed ID: 20813580 doi:10.1016/j.sleep.2010.04.014

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Rowe, J.W., & Kahn, R.L. (1998). Successful aging. New York, NY: Pantheon/Random House.

  • Silsbury, Z., Goldsmith, R., & Rushton, A. (2015). Systematic review of the measurement properties of self-report physical activity questionnaires in healthy adult populations. BMJ Open, 5(9), e008430. PubMed ID: 26373402 doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2015-008430

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Singh, N.A., Clements, K.M., & Fiatarone, M.A. (1997). A randomized controlled trial of the effect of exercise on sleep. Sleep, 20(2), 95101. PubMed ID: 9143068 doi:10.1093/sleep/20.2.95

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Sonnega, A., Faul, J.D., Ofstedal, M.B., Langa, K.D., Philips, J.P., & Weir, D. (2014). Cohort profile: The Health and Retirement Study (HRS). International Journal of Epidemiology, 43(2), 576585. doi:10.1093/ije/dyu067

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Tang, N.K., & Sanborn, A.N. (2014). Better quality sleep promotes daytime physical activity in patients with chronic pain? A multilevel analysis of the within-person relationship. PLoS One, 9(3), e92158. PubMed ID: 24667276 doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0092158

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Varrasse, M., Li, J., & Gooneratne, N. (2015). Exercise and sleep in community-dwelling older adults. Current Sleep Medicine Reports, 1(4), 232240. PubMed ID: 27088071 doi:10.1007/s40675-015-0028-6

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Wen, M., Li, L.F., & Su, D.J. (2014). Physical activity and mortality among middle-aged and older adults in the United States. Journal of Physical Activity & Health, 11(2), 303312. PubMed ID: 23363569 doi:10.1123/jpah.2011-0281

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Whitley, E., Popham, F., & Benzeval, M. (2016). Comparison of the Rowe-Kahn Model of successful aging with self-rated health and life satisfaction: The West of Scotland twenty-07 prospective cohort study. Gerontologist, 56(6), 10821092. PubMed ID: 26970606 doi:10.1093/geront/gnv054

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Yang, P., Ho, K., Chen, H.& Chien, M. (2012). Exercise training improves sleep quality in middle-aged and older adults with sleep problems: a systematic review. Journal of Physiotherapy, 58, 157163. PubMed ID: 22884182 doi:10.1016/S1836-9553(12)70106-6

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Youngstedt, S.D., & Kline, C.E. (2006). Epidemiology of exercise and sleep. Sleep and Biological Rhythms, 4(3), 215221. PubMed ID: 25374476 doi:10.1111/j.1479-8425.2006.00235.x

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Zajacova, A., & Burgard, S.A. (2013). Healthier, wealthier, and wiser: A demonstration of compositional changes in aging cohorts due to selective mortality. Population Research and Policy Review, 32(3), 311324. PubMed ID: 25075152 doi:10.1007/s11113-013-9273-x

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Zhang, B. & Wing, Y.K. (2006). Sex differences in insomnia: A meta-analysis. Sleep, 29(1), 8593. PubMed ID: 16453985 doi:10.1093/sleep/29.1.85

  • Zivin, K., Llewellyn, D.J., Lang, I.A., Vijan, S., Kabeto, M.U., Miller, E.M., & Langa, K.M. (2010). Depression among older adults in the United States and England. The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 18(11), 10361044. PubMed ID: 20808088 doi:10.1097/JGP.0b013e3181dba6d2

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
All Time Past Year Past 30 Days
Abstract Views 2551 492 13
Full Text Views 280 29 5
PDF Downloads 125 19 1