Worksite intervention effects on sleep quality: A randomized controlled trial

Employees with sleep disturbance are at increased risk of disease. Exercise is believed to be effective for improving sleep quality, but few studies have been conducted. This study investigated the effects of a 24-week worksite exercise/behavioral intervention on self-rated sleep quality, via the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), in 73 employees. Greater post-test improvements in the PSQI (-2.0 ± 2.6 vs. -1.3 ± 2.7 points, p =.006, and -16 ± 61 vs. -1 ± 76%, p =.02) were found in treatment versus controls, and in women versus men (by -2.7 points [-5.0 to -0.3 points, p =.03], and by -72% [-142 to -2%, p =.04]). Similar results were found in the shift worker subgroup. Changes in sleep scores were not significantly related to baseline characteristics, changes in psychological health or quality-of-life scores, or level of exercise compliance.