Associations of self-reported physical activity, sedentary behavior, and sleep duration with mental and behavioral health among civil aviation flight students: a cross-sectional study
Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Objective: To examine the associations of self-reported physical activity at different intensities, total sedentary time, and sleep duration with mental and behavioral health indicators among civil aviation flight students. Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted at a civil aviation university from January 5 to 30, 2026. A total of 776 students majoring in Flight Technology were included, of whom 774 (99.7%) were male. Because only two participants were female, the primary inferential analyses were restricted to male participants. Physical activity and sedentary behavior were assessed using modified self-report items. Physical activity duration represented participants' self-reported activity time on a typical activity day rather than average daily or weekly physical activity time; sleep exposure was assessed using categorical self-reported sleep duration. Depression, anxiety, stress, and problematic Internet use were assessed using validated scales. Generalized estimating equation models were used to examine cross-sectional associations between the behavioral indicators and outcomes, with false discovery rate (FDR) correction. Results: In the fully adjusted male sample, after FDR correction, longer self-reported vigorous-intensity physical activity duration on a typical activity day was associated with lower anxiety scores; self-reported sleep duration <7 h was associated with higher depression, anxiety, stress, and problematic Internet use scores; and longer self-reported total sedentary time was associated with higher problematic Internet use scores. No statistically significant linear associations were observed between moderate- or light-intensity physical activity and any outcome after FDR correction. The observed associations were generally small: the association between vigorous-intensity physical activity and anxiety was approximately 0.10 outcome standard deviations, the associations between sleep duration <7 h and the corresponding outcomes were approximately 0.24-0.27 standard deviations, and the association between total sedentary time and problematic Internet use was approximately 0.04 standard deviations. The directions of the main associations were generally consistent across multiple sensitivity analyses, although the strength of statistical evidence for some associations varied by outcome definition, sample restriction, and data-processing approach. Conclusion: Among male civil aviation flight students, self-reported physical activity, total sedentary time, and sleep duration were cross-sectionally associated with selected mental and behavioral health indicators. Given the cross-sectional design, these findings cannot establish causality, an optimal physical activity dose, a sleep intervention threshold, or time-substitution effects between behaviors. The findings suggest that behavioral indicators and mental and behavioral health status may be considered jointly in this population, but the observed associations require confirmation in longitudinal studies using objective, device-based behavioral measures.
Source: Frontiers in Psychology
Language: English
Topic: Physical Activity and Health
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,801
OpenAlex ID: W7222538634