Work

Sleep-related complaints and mental health symptoms among gym users: associations with chronotype and sociodemographic characteristics

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Purpose To examine sleep-related complaints and mental health symptoms among adult gym users and investigate their associations with chronotype, sociodemographic characteristics, and weekly exercise volume. Methods This cross-sectional study included 227 adults aged 18–59 years who were attending gyms in Paraná, Brazil, who reported regular participation in gym-based exercise for at least 3 months. Participants completed the Pittsburgh sleep quality index, insomnia severity index, Berlin questionnaire, morningness–eveningness questionnaire, and depression, anxiety, and stress scale−21, in addition to sociodemographic and self-reported exercise questions. Nonparametric and categorical tests were used for group comparisons, and generalized linear models were used to estimate adjusted prevalence ratios. Results Poor sleep quality was observed in 81.5% of the participants. Depression and anxiety classifications differed according to sleep quality ( p <0.001 and p =0.018, respectively), whereas stress did not ( p =0.184). Depression classification showed a marginal association with chronotype (p=0.019), with a greater percentage of individuals in the moderate morning group (74.3%) than in the indifferent group (49.6%). In the adjusted analyses, age was inversely associated with poor sleep quality and insomnia, whereas body mass index was positively associated with poor sleep quality and sleep apnea risk. Moderate/severe depression was associated with poor sleep quality, and a moderate morning chronotype was associated with a lower prevalence of poor sleep quality. Participants reporting at least 2.5 h/week of exercise reported lower frequencies of moderate/severe depression and anxiety. Conclusions Poor sleep quality was highly prevalent among gym users reporting regular participation in gym-based exercise. The outcomes varied according to chronotype, age, body mass index, and weekly exercise volume, supporting sleep and mental health screening in gym-based health promotion.

Source: Sport Sciences for Health

DOI: 10.1007/s11332-026-01953-w