EXERCISE OR PHYSICAL ACTIVITY: WHICH IS MORE STRONGLY ASSOCIATED WITH THE PERCEPTION OF SLEEP QUALITY BY ADOLESCENTS?

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the association of exercises and physical activity with the perception of sleep quality by adolescents. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional epidemiological survey with statewide coverage, whose sample was composed of 6,261 adolescents (14-19 years old) who were selected by random sampling of conglomerates. The Global School-Based Student Health Survey questionnaire was used for data collection. The chi-square test and the binary logistic regression were applied for data analyses. RESULTS: In the sample, 29% of adolescents did not exercise and were not classified as physically active. Adolescents who did not exercise were more likely to present a negative perception of sleep quality (OR 1.13, 95%CI 1.04-1.28, p=0.043). No association between the level of physical activity and the perception of sleep quality was found (OR 1.01, 95%CI 0.89-1.14, p=0.868). Those who practiced exercises only had less chance of perceiving sleep quality as poor (OR 0.82, 95%CI 0.71-0.95). However, those who practiced exercise and had a physically active life had less chances of having a negative perception of their sleep (OR 0.79, 95%CI 0.68-0.93). CONCLUSIONS: Practicing physical activity alone was not enough to increase the chances of positive sleep quality perception. Only physical exercise had a positive association with sleep quality perception.