Abstract
Sleep quality among college students is associated with various psychological and behavioral factors, including perceived stress and physical activity levels. Sleep disorders have become an increasingly prevalent health issue in the student population, particularly due to academic stress and lifestyle changes. Sleep quality is determined not only by sleep duration but also by deep sleep phases, which play an important role in physiological recovery, emotional regulation, and cognitive function. This study aimed to examine the associations of perceived stress and physical activity levels with sleep quality among sports science students. A descriptive cross-sectional design was employed involving 186 students selected through a total sampling technique. Data were collected using the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS), Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ), and Sleep Quality Scale (SQS). The findings indicated that perceived stress was significantly associated with sleep quality (β = .447, p < .001), whereas physical activity level was not significantly associated with sleep quality (β = −.059, p = .376). The overall regression model was statistically significant, F(2,183) = 23.089, p < .001, with R² = .201. These findings suggest that perceived stress plays a more prominent role than physical activity in explaining variations in sleep quality among sports science students. Therefore, strategies aimed at improving sleep quality in this population may benefit from prioritizing stress management alongside the promotion of healthy lifestyle behaviors.
References
Aglaia, K., Zoe, K., Evmorfia, K., Mangoulia, P., Gallos, P., Moisoglou, I., & Galanis, P. (2025). The Single-Item Sleep Quality Scale is a Valid Tool to Measure Sleep Quality. International Journal of Caring Sciences, 18(2), 713–719. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsmc.2022.02.003
Andreasson, A., Axelsson, J., Bosch, J. A., & Jt, L. (2021). Poor sleep quality is associated with worse self-rated health in long sleep duration but not short sleep duration. Sleep Medicine, 88, 262–266. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sleep.2021.10.028
Anggita, G. M., Ali, M. A., & Subiyono, H. S. (2021). Hubungan Rasio Perilaku Konsumsi Makro Nutrisi dengan Tingkat Kebugaran Jasmani pada Remaja. Jurnal Pendidikan Kesehatan Rekreasi Vol., 7(1), 130–140. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.4434568
Bacaro, V., Miletic, K., & Crocetti, E. (2024). International Journal of Clinical and Health Psychology: A meta-analysis of longitudinal studies on the interplay between sleep, mental health, and positive well-being in adolescents. Clinical and Health Psychology, 24(November 2023). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijchp.2023.100424
Baglioni, C., Nanovska, S., Regen, W., Spiegelhalder, K., Feige, B., Nissen, C., & Iii, C. F. R. (2016). Sleep and Mental Disorders : A Meta-Analysis of Polysomnographic Research. Psychological Bulletin, 142(9), 969–990. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/bul0000053
Chen, H., Cao, Z., Zhang, X., Duan, H., Jiang, S., & Cai, C. (2025). The association between perceived stress and resilience among medical staff during public health emergencies : mediating effect of self-efficacy. BMC Psychology, 13, 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-025-03496-0
Denis, D., Coleman, J., Ren, B., Oh, A., Cox, R., Morgan, A., Sato, E., & Stickgold, R. (2025). Both slow-wave and rapid eye movement sleep contribute to emotional memory consolidation. Communications Biology, 8. https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-025-07868-5
Dolezal, B. A., Neufeld, E. V, Boland, D. M., Martin, J. L., & Cooper, C. B. (2017). Interrelationship between Sleep and Exercise : A Systematic Review. Hindawi, 2017, 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1155/2017/1364387
Dube, S., & Babar, A. (2024). Stress and insomnia – A vicious circle. Current Medicine Research and Practice, 14, 73–77. https://doi.org/10.4103/cmrp.cmrp
Faoziyah, N., & Suharjana, S. (2020). Kualitas dan efisiensi tidur yang buruk pada mahasiswa. Jurnal SPORTIF : Jurnal Penelitian Pembelajaran, 6(2), 514–525. https://doi.org/10.29407/js_unpgri.v6i2.14545
Gardani, M., Bradford, D. R. R., Russell, K., Allan, S., Beattie, L., Ellis, J. G., & Akram, U. (2022). A systematic review and meta-analysis of poor sleep, insomnia symptoms, and stress in undergraduate students. Sleep Medicine Reviews, 61, 101565. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smrv.2021.101565
Ghrouz, A. K., Noohu, M. M., Manzar, D., Spence, D. W., Bahammam, A. S., & Pandi-perumal, S. R. (2019). Physical activity and sleep quality in relation to mental health among college students. Springer, 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11325-019-01780-z
Girotti, M., Bulin, S. E., & Carreno, F. R. (2024). Neurobiology of Stress: Effects of chronic stress on cognitive function – From neurobiology to intervention, Wisconsin Card test. Neurobiology of Stress, 33(August), 100670. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ynstr.2024.100670
Gurau, T. V., Coman, M. G., Iordan, D. A., Musat, C. L., Adam, A. M., Stan, A. M., Balta, A. A., & Constantin, G. B. (2025). Assessment of physical activity levels and sedentary behavior in students using the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire. Balneo and PRM Research Journal 2025, 16, 1–17. https://doi.org/ 10.12680/balneo.2025.815
Hadi, M., Noviekayati, I., & Suhadianto. (2025). Systematic Review on Global Trend in Students ' Academic Stress : Prevalence, Causal Factor, and Psychological Implication. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND INNOVATION IN SOCIAL SCIENCE (IJRISS), IX(2454), 4262–4283. https://doi.org/10.47772/IJRISS
Huang, H. H., Stubbs, B., Chen, L. J., Ku, P. W., Hsu, T. Y., & Lin, C. W. (2023). The effect of physical activity on sleep disturbance in various populations : a scoping review of randomized clinical trials. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 20, 1–21. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12966-023-01449-7
Huang, Y., Yang, L., Liu, Y., & Zhang, S. (2024). Effects of perceived stress on college students’ sleep quality: a moderated chain mediation model. BMC Psychology, 12(1), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-024-01976-3
Kandola, A., Ashdown-Franks, G., Hendrikse, J., Sabiston, C. M., & Stubbs, B. (2019). Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews Physical activity and depression : Towards understanding the antidepressant mechanisms of physical activity. Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews, 107(October), 525–539. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2019.09.040
Kasmadi, M., & Suhadi, S. (2024). The relationship between physical activity intensity, sleep quality, and stress levels in adolescent physical fitness. Jurnal SPORTIF : Jurnal Penelitian Pembelajaran, 10(1), 15–30. https://doi.org/10.29407/js_unpgri.v10i1.22331
Lachman, J., Ward, C. L., Han, Q., Antonio, F., Jocson, R., Kunovski, I., Eagling-peche, S., Juhari, R., Okop, K., & Gardner, F. (2025). Six-country psychometric comparison of women responses to the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale ( DASS ) and the Child and Adolescent Behaviour Inventory ( CABI ) across cultures and time. Journal of Affective Disordersective Disorders, 387, 32–37. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2025.119524
Lepping, K. M., Bailey, C. P., Mavredes, M. N., Faro, J. M., & Napolitano, M. A. (2023). Physical Activity, Stress, and Physically Active Stress Management Behaviors Among University Students With Overweight/Obesity. American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine, 17(4), 601–606. https://doi.org/10.1177/15598276211020688
Li, B., Han, S., Ye, Y., Li, Y., Meng, S., & Feng, S. (2024). Cross-sectional associations of physical activity and sleep with mental health among Chinese university students. Scientific Reports, 14, 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-80034-9 1
Li, W., Zhao, Z., Chen, D., Peng, Y., & Lu, Z. (2022). Prevalence and associated factors of depression and anxiety symptoms among college students : a systematic review and meta-analysis. Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 11, 1222–1230. https://doi.org/10.1111/jcpp.13606
Li, X., Zhang, X., Qiu, C., Duan, Y., Liu, S., & Chen, D. (2020). Rapid Loss of Tidal Flats in the Yangtze River Delta since 1974. Environmental Research and Public Health Article, 1–20. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17051636
Liu, D., Tian, Y., Liu, M., & Yang, S. (2025). The Impact of Physical Exercise on Sleep Quality Among College Students: The Chain Mediating Effects of Perceived Stress and Ruminative Thinking. Psychology Research and Behavior Management, 18(February), 361–373. https://doi.org/10.2147/PRBM.S510207
Lund, L., Sølvhøj, I. N., Danielsen, D., & Andersen, S. (2021). Electronic media use and sleep in children and adolescents in Western countries : a systematic review. BMC Public Health, 21, 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-11640-9
Malykhin, N., Serrano, J., Pietrasik, W., & Hegadoren, K. (2025). Effects of duration and intensity of psychological stressors on mental health outcomes. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 187(August 2024), 211–222. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychires.2025.05.012
Moussa-Chamari, I., Farooq, A., Romdhani, M., Washif, J. A., Bakare, U., Helmy, M., Al-Horani, R. A., Salamh, P., Robin, N., & Hue, O. (2024). The relationship between quality of life, sleep quality, mental health, and physical activity in an international sample of college students: a structural equation modeling approach. Frontiers in Public Health, 12(July), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2024.1397924
Ndahimana, D., & Kim, E. (2017). Measurement Methods for Physical Activity and Energy Expenditure : A Review. Clinical Nutrition Research, 6(2), 68–80. https://doi.org/10.7762/cnr.2017.6.2.68
Okano, K., Kaczmarzyk, J. R., Dave, N., Gabrieli, J. D. E., & Grossman, J. C. (2019). Sleep quality, duration, and consistency are associated with better academic performance in college students. Npj Science of Learning, 4(March). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41539-019-0055-z
Paiva, U., Cortese, S., Flor, M., García-gonz, S., Lecumberri, A., Eudave, L., Magall, S., Piqu, I., & Arrondo, G. (2025). Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews Prevalence of mental disorder symptoms among university students : An umbrella review. Neuroscience and Biobehavioral, 175(June). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2025.106244
Pascoe, M. C., Hetrick, S. E., Parker, A. G., Pascoe, M. C., Hetrick, S. E., The, A. G. P., & Pascoe, M. C. (2019). The impact of stress on students in secondary school and higher education. International Journal of Adolescence and Youth, 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1080/02673843.2019.1596823
Ram, E., Gea-caballero, V., & Granada-l, M. (2020). The Prevalence of Depression, Anxiety, and Stress and Their Associated Factors in College Students. Environmental Research and Public Health Article, 17, 1–15. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17197001
Riehm, K. E., Holingue, C., Kalb, L. G., Bennett, D., Kapteyn, A., Jiang, Q., Veldhuis, C. B., Johnson, R. M., Fallin, M. D., Kreuter, F., Stuart, E. A., & Thrul, J. (2020). Associations Between Media Exposure and Mental Distress Among U.S. Adults at the Beginning of the COVID-19 Pandemic. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 59(5), 630–638. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2020.06.008
Roy, S., & Biswas, A. K. (2025). Stress, Anxiety, and Depression as Psychological Distress Among College and Undergraduate Students : A Scoping Review of Reviews Guided by the Socio-Ecological Model. Healthcare, 13, 1–20. https://doi.org/ 10.3390/healthcare13161948
Schuch, F. B., Ph, D., Vancampfort, D., Ph, D., Firth, J., Ph, D., Rosenbaum, S., Ph, D., Ward, P. B., & Ph, D. (2018). Physical Activity and Incident Depression : A Meta-Analysis of Prospective Cohort Studies. PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND INCIDENT DEPRESSION, July, 631–648. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.2018.17111194
Sejbuk, M., Miro, I., & Witkowska, A. M. (2022). Sleep Quality : A Narrative Review on Nutrition, Stimulants, and Physical Activity as Important Factors. Nutrients, 14, 1–26. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14091912
Stutz, J., Eiholzer, R., & Spengler, C. M. (2019). Effects of Evening Exercise on Sleep in Healthy Participants : A Systematic Review and Meta ‑ Analysis. Sports Medicine, 49(2), 269–287. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-018-1015-0
Tsai, J.-C., Chou, K.-R., Tsai, H.-T., Yen, Y.-C., & Niu, S.-F. (2019). Effects of Nocturnal Sleep Quality on Diurnal Cortisol Profiles and Attention in Nurses : A Cross-Sectional Study. Biological Research for Nursing, 250, 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1177/1099800419861695
Vidovi, S., Raki, N., Kraštek, S., Pešikan, A., Degmeˇ, D., Heffer, M., & Pogoreli, Z. (2025). Sleep Quality and Mental Health Among Medical Students : A Cross-Sectional Study. Clinical Medicine, 14, 1–12. https://doi.org/J. Clin. Med. 2025, 14, 2274 https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14072274
Wang, F., Boros, S., & Wang, F. (2021). The effect of physical activity on sleep quality : a systematic review The effect of physical activity on sleep quality : a systematic review. European Journal of Physiotherapy, 23(1), 11–18. https://doi.org/10.1080/21679169.2019.1623314
Wang, H., Xin, X., & Pan, Y. (2025). The best approaches and doses of exercise for improving sleep quality : a network meta- analysis and dose-response relationship study. BMC Public Health, 25, 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-22570-1
Wang, W., Zhu, Y., Yu, H., Wu, C., Li, T., Ji, C., & Jiang, Y. (2024). The impact of sleep quality on emotion regulation difficulties in adolescents : a chained mediation model involving daytime dysfunction, social exclusion, and self-control. BMC Public Health, 24, 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-19400-1
World Health Organization. (2020). Physical activity. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/physical-activity
Xu, L., Yan, W., Hua, G., He, Z., Wu, C., & Hao, M. (2025). Effects of physical activity on sleep quality among university students: a chain-mediated pathway between rumination and depressive symptoms. BMC Psychiatry, 25(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-024-06450-3
Ye, J., Jia, X., Zhang, J., & Guo, K. (2022). Effect of physical exercise on sleep quality of college students: Chain intermediary effect of mindfulness and ruminative thinking. Frontiers in Psychology, 13(September), 1–11. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.987537
Zhu, W., Lou, H., Zuo, H., Wang, W., Yang, L., & Li, B. (2025). The effect of physical exercise on sleep quality in university students : chain mediation of health literacy and life satisfaction. Frontiers in Psychiatry, July, 1–13. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1604916

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Copyright (c) 2026 Maylvie, Gustiana Mega Anggita, Neni Widiasmoro, Zahrah Zakiya Ahda

