Relationships Between Physical Activity, Psychological Symptoms, and Sleep Quality in Young Adults: A Body Composition Perspective

Abstract

Background: Physical activity, mental health, and sleep are interconnected factors influencing well-being in young adults. This study investigated the relationships among physical activity, psychological symptoms (depression, anxiety, stress), sleep quality, and body composition in a sample of Turkish university students.Methods: A cross-sectional study included 572 university students, with 50.5% female participants and a mean age of 20.79±2.71 years. Physical activity was measured using the Physical Activity Scale–2 (PAS-2), psychological symptoms using the DASS-21, and sleep quality using the Basic Scale for Insomnia Complaints and Sleep Quality, Body composition was assessed with the InBody 120 (BIA). Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation analyses, and multiple regressions were conducted to examine the relationships between the study variables.Results: Physical activity did not show significant associations with psychological symptoms or sleep quality (p>.05). Higher depression and stress scores predicted poorer sleep quality (β=.175 and β=.246, respectively p