Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Sedentary Behavior and Sleep Problems: a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

  • Published:
International Journal of Behavioral Medicine Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

Sedentary behavior, characterized by a sitting or reclining posture and low-energy expenditure, has been recognized as an independent health risk factor. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to examine the association between sedentary behavior and sleep problems.

Method

Keyword and reference search were performed in PubMed, Cochrance Library, and Web of Science databases to identify relevant studies. The methodological quality of each study was assessed by standardized tools. The pooled estimates on the relationship between sedentary behavior and sleep problems were calculated in meta-analysis. Subgroup analyses were conducted for studies examining alternative sedentary behavior types, using self-reported or objective measures of sedentary behavior, different age groups, and assessed with different study quality levels.

Results

Sixteen eligible studies were identified through a literature search. Meta-analysis found sedentary behavior to be associated with an increased risk of insomnia (pooled odds ratio [POR] = 1.176, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.014–1.364) and sleep disturbance (POR = 1.381, 95% CI = 1.282–1.488). No association between sedentary behavior and daytime sleepiness and/or poor sleep quality was observed. Except for study quality levels, no significant differences in sleep disturbance were observed across alternative sedentary behavior types, sedentary behavior measures, and age groups in subgroup analyses.

Conclusions

Prolonged sedentary behavior tends to be associated with an elevated risk of insomnia and sleep disturbance in the existing literature. Future studies with experimental study design and longer follow-up periods are warranted to demonstrate the long-term causal impact of sedentary behavior on sleep problems.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Pandi-Perumal SR, Verster JC, Kayumov L, Lowe A, Santana M, Pires M, et al. Sleep disorders, sleepiness and traffic safety: a public health menace. Braz J Med Biol Res. 2006;39:863–71.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. National Sleep Foundation. 2003 Sleep in America Poll (Executive Summary). 2003. http://www.sleepfoundation.org. Accessed 10 May 2016.

  3. Troxel WM, Robles TF, Hall M, Buysse DJ. Marital quality and the marital bed: examining the covariation between relationship quality and sleep. Sleep Med Rev. 2007;11:389–404.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  4. Martínez-Gómez D, Guallar-Castillón P, León-Muñoz LM, López-García E, Rodríguez-Artalejo F. Combined impact of traditional and non-traditional health behaviors on mortality: a national prospective cohort study in Spanish older adults. BMC Med. 2013;11:47–57.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  5. Gooneratne NS, Tavaria A, Patel N, Madhusudan L, Nadaraja D, Onen F, et al. Perceived effectiveness of diverse sleep treatments in older adults. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2011;59:297–303.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  6. Cart L. Letter to the editor: standardized use of the terms sedentary and sedentary behaviours. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab. 2012;37:540–2.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Owen N, Healy GN, Matthews CE, Dunstan DW. Too much sitting: the population-health science of sedentary behavior. Exerc Sport Sci Rev. 2010;38:105–13.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  8. Matthews CE, Chen KY, Freedson PS, Buchowski MS, Beech BM, Pate RR, et al. Amount of time spent in sedentary behaviors in the United States, 2003–2004. Am J Epidemiol. 2008;167:875–81.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  9. Tremblay MS, Colley RC, Saunders TJ, Healy GN, Owen N. Physiological and health implications of a sedentary lifestyle. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab. 2010;35:725–40.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Van der Ploeg HP, Chey T, Korda RJ, Banks E, Bauman A. Sitting time and all-cause mortality risk in 222 497 Australian adults. Arch Intern Med. 2012;172:494–500.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Garber CE, Blissmer B, Deschenes MR, Franklin BA, Lamonte MJ, Lee I-M, et al. Quantity and quality of exercise for developing and maintaining cardiorespiratory, musculoskeletal, and neuromotor fitness in apparently healthy adults: guidance for prescribing exercise. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2011;43:1334–59.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Dunn AL, Trivedi MH, O’Neal HA. Physical activity dose–response effects on outcomes of depression and anxiety. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2001;33:587–97.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Sherrill DL, Kotchou K, Quan SF. Association of physical activity and human sleep disorders. Arch Intern Med. 1998;158:1894–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Alessi CA, Yoon EJ, Schnelle JF, Al-Samarrai NR, Cruise PA. A randomized trial of a combined physical activity and environmental intervention in nursing home residents: do sleep and agitation improve? J Am Geriatr Soc. 1999;47:784–91.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Hartescu I, Morgan K, Stevinson CD. Increased physical activity improves sleep and mood outcomes in inactive people with insomnia: a randomized controlled trial. J Sleep Res. 2015;24:526–34.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Madden KM, Ashe MC, Lockhart C, Chase JM. Sedentary behavior and sleep efficiency in active community-dwelling older adults. Sleep Sci. 2014;7:82–8.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  17. Feng Q, Zhang Q, Du Y, Ye Y, He Q. Associations of physical activity, screen time with depression, anxiety and sleep quality among Chinese college freshmen. PLoS One. 2014;9:1–5.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Gregory AM, Rijsdijk FV, Lau J, Dahl RE, Eley TC. The direction of longitudinal associations between sleep problems and depression symptoms: a study of twins aged 8 and 10 years. Sleep. 2009;32:189–99.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  19. Van den Bulck J. Television viewing, computer game playing, and internet use and self-reported time to bed and time out of bed in secondary-school children. Sleep. 2004;27:101–4.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Costigan SA, Barnett L, Plotnikoff RC, Lubans DR. The health indicators associated with screen-based sedentary behavior among adolescent girls: a systematic review. J Adolesc Health. 2013;52:382–92.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Zocchetti C, Consonni D, Bertazzi PA. Relationship between prevalence rate ratios and odds ratios in cross-sectional studies. Int J Epidemiol. 1997;26:220–3.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Borenstein M, Hedges LV, Higgins JPT, Rothstein HR. 2009 Subgroup analyses. In: Introduction to Meta-Analysis [Internet]. John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. p.149–86.

  23. Edwardson CL, Gorely T, Davies MJ, Gray LJ, Khunti K, Wilmot EG, et al. Association of sedentary behaviour with metabolic syndrome: a meta-analysis. PLoS One. 2012;7:1–5.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Asztalos M, Cardon G, De Bourdeaudhuij I, De Cocker K. Cross-sectional associations between sitting time and several aspects of mental health in Belgian adults. J Phys Act Health. 2015;12:1112–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Melton BF, Bigham LE, Bland HW, Bird M, Fairman C. Health-related behaviors and technology usage among college students. Am J Health Behav. 2014;38:510–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Shechter A, St-Onge MP. Delayed sleep timing is associated with low levels of free-living physical activity in normal sleeping adults. Sleep Med. 2014;15:1586–9.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  27. Bakken IJ, Wenzel HG, Gotestam KG, Johansson A, Oren A. Internet addiction among Norwegian adults: a stratified probability sample study. Scand J Psychol. 2009;50:121–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Ban DJ, Lee TJ. Sleep duration, subjective sleep disturbances and associated factors among university students in Korea. J Korean Med Sci. 2001;16:475–80.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  29. Exelmans L, Van den Bulck J. The use of media as a sleep aid in adults. Behav Sleep Med. 2016;14:121–33.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Fossum IN, Nordnes LT, Storemark SS, Bjorvatn B, Pallesen S. The association between use of electronic media in bed before going to sleep and insomnia symptoms, daytime sleepiness, morningness, and chronotype. Behav Sleep Med. 2014;12:343–57.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Gradisar M, Wolfson AR, Harvey AG, Hale L, Rosenberg R, Czeisler CA. The sleep and technology use of Americans: findings from the National Sleep Foundation’s 2011 sleep in America poll. J Clin Sleep Med. 2013;9:1291–9.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  32. Katz P, Margaretten M, Trupin L, Schmajuk G, Yazdany J, Yelin E. Role of sleep disturbance, depression, obesity, and physical inactivity in fatigue in rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis Care Res. 2016;68:81–90.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Lemola S, Brand S, Vogler N, Perkinson-Gloor N, Allemand M, Grob A. Habitual computer game playing at night is related to depressive symptoms. Personal Individ Differ. 2011;51:117–22.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. Luyster FS, Kip KE, Buysse DJ, Aiyer AN, Reis SE, Strollo PJ. Traditional and nontraditional cardiovascular risk factors in comorbid insomnia and sleep apnea. Sleep. 2014;37:593–600.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  35. Park SH, Jang SY, Kim H, Lee SW. An association rule mining-based framework for understanding lifestyle risk behaviors. PLoS One. 2014;9:1–9.

    Google Scholar 

  36. Yang CY, Chiou AF. Predictors of sleep quality in community-dwelling older adults in northern Taiwan. J Nurs Res. 2012;20:249–60.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Basner M, Fomberstein KM, Razavi FM, Banks S, William JH, Rosa RR, et al. American time use survey: sleep time and its relationship to waking activities. Sleep. 2007;30:1085–95.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  38. Guallar-Castillon P, Bayan-Bravo A, Leon-Munoz LM, Balboa-Castillo T, Lopez-Garcia E, Gutierrez-Fisac JL, et al. The association of major patterns of physical activity, sedentary behavior and sleep with health-related quality of life: a cohort study. Prev Med. 2014;67:248–54.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Mikulovic J, Dieu O, Fardy PS, Bui-Xuan G, Vanhelst J. Influence of sleep timing behavior on weight status and activity patterns in adults with intellectual disabilities. Res Dev Disabil. 2014;35:3254–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  40. Van den Bulck J. The effects of media on sleep. Adolesc Med State Art Rev. 2010 Dec;2010(21):418–29.

    Google Scholar 

  41. Cheng SH, Shih CC, Lee IH, Hou YW, Chen KC, Chen KT, et al. A study on the sleep quality of incoming university students. Psychiatry Res. 2012;197:270–4.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  42. Higuchi S, Motohashi Y, Liu Y, Maeda A. Effects of playing a computer game using a bright display on presleep physiological variables, sleep latency, slow wave sleep and REM sleep. J Sleep Res. 2005;14:267–73.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  43. Korpinen L, Paakkonen R. Self-reported sleep disorders/disturbances associated with physical symptoms and usage of computers. Int J Ind Ergon. 2013;43:257–63.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  44. Lakerveld J, Mackenbach JD, Horvath E, Rutters F, Compernolle S, Bardos H, et al. The relation between sleep duration and sedentary behaviours in European adults. Obes Rev. 2016;17:62–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  45. Mesquita G, Reimao R. Quality of sleep among university students effects of nighttime computer and television use. Arq Neuropsiquiatr. 2010;68:720–5.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  46. Orzech KM, Grandner MA, Roane BM, Carskadon MA. Digital media use in the 2 h before bedtime is associated with sleep variables in university students. Comput Hum Behav. 2016;55:43–50.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  47. Theorell-Haglow J, Lindberg E, Janson C. What are the important risk factors for daytime sleepiness and fatigue in women? Sleep. 2006;29:751–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  48. Wolniczak I, Caceres-DelAguila JA, Palma-Ardiles G, Arroyo KJ, Solis-Visscher R, Paredes-Yauri S, et al. Association between Facebook dependence and poor sleep quality: a study in a sample of undergraduate students in Peru. PLoS One. 2013;8:1–5.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  49. Grandner MA, Schopfer EA, Sands-Lincoln M, Jackson N, Malhotra A. Relationship between sleep duration and body mass index depends on age. Obesity. 2015;23:2491–8.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  50. Johnson JG, Cohen P, Kasen S, First MB, Brook JS. Association between television viewing and sleep problems during adolescence and early adulthood. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2004;158:562–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  51. Mannikko N, Billieux J, Kaariainen M. Problematic digital gaming behavior and its relation to the psychological, social and physical health of Finnish adolescents and young adults. J Behav Addict. 2015;4:281–8.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  52. Tavernier R, Willoughby T. Sleep problems: predictor or outcome of media use among emerging adults at university? J Sleep Res. 2014;23:389–96.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  53. Wenzel HG, Bakken IJ, Johansson A, Gotestam KG, Oren A. Excessive computer game playing among Norwegian adults: self-reported consequences of playing and assocation mental health problems. Psychol Rep. 2009;105:1237–47.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  54. Janson C, Lindberg E, Gislason T, Elmasry A, Boman G. Insomnia in men—a 10-year prospective population based study. Sleep. 2001;24:425–30.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  55. Thomee S, Eklof M, Gustafsson E, Nilsson R, Hagberg M. Prevalence of perceived stress, symptoms of depression and sleep disturbances in relation to information and communication technology (ICT) use among young adults—an explorative prospective study. Comput Hum Behav. 2007;23:1300–21.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  56. Andersen LL, Garde AH. Sleep problems and computer use during work and leisure: cross-sectional study among 7800 adults. Chronobiol Int. 2015;32:1367–72.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  57. Andrianasolo RM, Menai M, Galan P, Hercberg S, Oppert JM, Kesse-Guyot E, et al. Leisure-time physical activity and sedentary behavior and their cross-sectional associations with excessive daytime sleepiness in the French SU.VI.MAX-2 study. Int J Behav Med. 2015;23:143–52.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  58. Benbir G, Demir AU, Aksu M, Ardic S, Firat H, Itil O, et al. Prevalence of insomnia and its clinical correlates in a general population in Turkey. Psychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2015;69:543–52.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  59. Buman MP, Kline CE, Youngstedt SD, Phillips B, de Mello MT, Hirshkowitz M. Sitting and television viewing novel risk factors for sleep disturbance and apnea risk? Results from the 2013 National Sleep Foundation sleep in America poll. Chest. 2015;147:728–34.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  60. Exelmans L, Van den Bulck J. Sleep quality is negatively related to video gaming volume in adults. J Sleep Res. 2015;24:189–96.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  61. Levenson JC, Shensa A, Sidani JE, Colditz JB, Primack BA. The association between social media use and sleep disturbance among young adults. Prev Med. 2016;85:36–41.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  62. Serrano S, Lee JW, Dehom S, Tonstad S. Association of TV watching with sleep problems in a church-going population. Fam Community Health. 2014;37:279–87.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  63. Thomee S, Harenstam A, Hagberg M. Computer use and stress, sleep disturbances, and symptoms of depression among young adults—a prospective cohort study. Bmc Psychiatry. 2012;12:176–90.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  64. Wu XY, Tao SM, Zhang YK, Zhang SC, Tao FB. Low physical activity and high screen time can increase the risks of mental health problems and poor sleep quality among Chinese college students. PLoS One. 2015;10:1–10.

    Google Scholar 

  65. Farnsworth JL, Kim Y, Kang M. Sleep disorders, physical activity, and sedentary behavior among U.S. adults: National Health and nutrition examination survey. J Phys Act Health. 2015;12:1567–75.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  66. Vaz Fragoso CA, Miller ME, Fielding RA, King AC, Kritchevsky SB, McDermott MM, et al. Sleep–wake disturbances in sedentary community-dwelling elderly adults with functional limitations. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2014;62:1064–72.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  67. Rosenberg DE, Bellettiere J, Gardiner PA, Villarreal VN, Crist K, Kerr J. Independent associations between sedentary behaviors and mental, cognitive, physical, and functional health among older adults in retirement communities. J Gerontol Ser -Biol Sci Med Sci. 2016;71:78–83.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  68. Vallance JK, Buman MP, Stevinson C, Lynch BM. Associations of overall sedentary time and screen time with sleep outcomes. Am J Health Behav. 2015;39:62–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  69. Healy GN, Clark BK, Winkler EA, Gardiner PA, Brown WJ, Matthews CE. Measurement of adults’ sedentary time in population-based studies. Am J Prev Med. 2011;41:216–27.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  70. Zhai L, Zhang Y, Zhang D. Sedentary behaviour and the risk of depression: a meta-analysis. Br J Sports Med. 2014;49:705–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  71. Bues M, Pross A, Stefani O, Frey S, Anders D, Späti J, et al. LED-backlit computer screens influence our biological clock and keep us more awake. J Soc Inf Disp. 2012;20:266–72.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  72. Sisson SB, Camhi SM, Church TS, Martin CK, Tudor-Locke C, Bouchard C, et al. Leisure time sedentary behavior, occupational/domestic physical activity, and metabolic syndrome in US men and women. Metab Syndr Relat Disord. 2009;7:529–36.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  73. Wolk R, Somers VK. Sleep and the metabolic syndrome. Exp Physiol. 2007;92:67–78.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  74. Morselli LL, Guyon A, Spiegel K. Sleep and metabolic function. Pflüg Arch-Eur J Physiol. 2012;463:139–60.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  75. Uchida S, Shioda K, Morita Y, Kubota C, Ganeko M, Takeda N. Exercise effects on sleep physiology. Front Neurol. 2012;3:1–5.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  76. Smith MT, Haythornthwaite JA. How do sleep disturbance and chronic pain inter-relate? Insights from the longitudinal and cognitive-behavioral clinical trials literature. Sleep Med Rev. 2004;8:119–32.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors thank Joe Lee Rowles for technical assistance.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Kinesiology and Community Health, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Freer Hall 461A, 906 South Goodwin Avenue, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA

    Yan Yang, Jong Cheol Shin & Ruopeng An

  2. Department of Landscape Architecture, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, USA

    Dongying Li

Authors
  1. Yan Yang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Jong Cheol Shin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Dongying Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Ruopeng An
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yan Yang.

Ethics declarations

Funding

This study was not supported by funding. The authors have indicated no financial conflict of interest.

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical Approval

For this type of study, formal consent is not required.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Yang, Y., Shin, J.C., Li, D. et al. Sedentary Behavior and Sleep Problems: a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Int.J. Behav. Med. 24, 481–492 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12529-016-9609-0

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12529-016-9609-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation