The Relationship Between Stress and Exercise With Fatigue And Sleep Quality As Mediating Variables

Abstract

The lack of exercise in the United States is a reason for concern, especially when examining medical issues that are becoming more prevalent such as obesity, diabetes, and cancer. The majority of Americans do not adhere to the recommended guidelines regarding exercise. One of the possible explanations for this lack of exercise is stress. Stress is a natural process that is central to daily life, however, left unchecked it may become a chronic problem. Biological, psychological, and social aspects of stress may contribute to health conditions, such as obesity and chronic fatigue. Exercise is related to stress, sleep quality, and fatigue. Evidence suggests that an increase in stress may be related to an increase in fatigue and lower levels of exercise. The present study examined the relationships among stress, sleep, fatigue, and exercise. Sixty-eight undergraduate students at the University of Michigan-Dearborn completed measures concerning perceived stress, fatigue, and sleep quality and also wore a Fitbit Flex for one continuous week to record steps and sleep quality. Although several significant correlations were found between study variables, data did not support a relationship between perceived stress and exercise.