The effects of physical activity on cortisol and sleep: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Summary & key facts

This review combined results from 10 intervention studies to see if physical activity programs change cortisol (a stress hormone) and sleep in adults. The pooled results found lower cortisol after activity programs and some improvement in sleep quality. The authors say the evidence is moderate for cortisol and low for sleep, and most studies were in people with breast cancer, so the findings may not apply to men or older adults.

Key facts:

• The review included 10 original intervention studies (randomized and non-randomized) with low-to-moderate risk of bias.
• Physical activity was associated with lower cortisol: standardized mean difference (SMD) = -0.37, 95% CI = [-0.52, -0.21], p < .001.
• Physical activity was associated with improved sleep quality: SMD = -0.30, 95% CI = [-0.56, -0.04], p = .02.
• The certainty of the evidence was reported as moderate for the cortisol result and low for the sleep result.
• Most included trials involved people with breast cancer. The review noted few male participants and no older adult-only samples, limiting how broadly the results can be applied.
• The review followed PRISMA guidelines and focused on adults in physical activity programs of any length, comparing them to control groups and measuring cortisol and subjective or objective sleep outcomes.

Abstract

Cortisol regulation and sleep quality are intertwined, and physical activity programmes could improve both in several ways. Further, physical activity may benefit adults with long term conditions or current poor (mental) health states the most, although more research is needed to support this claim fully. Few intervention studies have examined the inter-relationship between cortisol and sleep outcomes in males or older adults, indicating fruitful enquiry for future research.

Topics

Circadian rhythm and melatonin Physical Activity and Health Sleep and related disorders

Categories

Experimental and Cognitive Psychology Psychology Social Sciences

Tags

Actigraphy Clinical psychology Computer science Environmental health Insomnia Internal medicine Intervention (counseling) Law Medicine MEDLINE Meta-analysis Operating system Physical therapy Political science Population Psychiatry Psychology Randomized controlled trial Sleep (system call) Systematic review