Start Date
19-6-2025 9:00 AM
End Date
19-6-2025 10:30 AM
Abstract
Background
Regular physical activity (PA) benefits sleep, but its timing and adherence to the WHO's 60-minute MVPA guideline can affect sleep, especially in children with ADHD who frequently experience sleep problems. This study examines how exercise timing influences sleep parameters (e.g., sleep latency, sleep efficiency, total sleep time, and wake after sleep onset [WASO]) in children with ADHD.
Methods
This cross-sectional study included 229 children with ADHD (Mage=8.61 ± 1.30, 80.3% boys). PA timing was categorized as more than 8 hours before bedtime, 3–8 hours before, and less than 3 hours before. MVPA guideline attainment was defined as ≥ 60 minutes of MVPA daily. PA and sleep parameters were recorded by an ActiGraph GT9X accelerometer for 7 consecutive days.
Results
Of the 229 children with ADHD, 154 (67.2%) met WHO's 60-minute MVPA guideline. These children had better sleep outcomes than those who didn't meet the guideline, with shorter sleep latency (F=45.39, η²=.172), higher sleep efficiency (F=22.05, η²=.092), and less WASO (F=15.42, η²=.066). MVPA guideline attainment (β=-.290, p=.001) and exercising more than 8 hours before bedtime (β=-.247, p=.005) were linked to reduced sleep latency. Additionally, both meeting the MVPA guideline (β=.299, p=.001) and exercising more than 8 hours before bedtime (β=.272, p=.003) were associated with increased sleep efficiency, while exercising less than 3 hours before bedtime was associated with decreased sleep efficiency (β=-.229, p=.001).
Conclusion
The results emphasize that exercising more than 8 hours before bedtime and meeting the MVPA guideline are crucial for improving sleep in children with ADHD.
Recommended Citation
Liang, Xiao Dr; Qiu, Hui Dr; Zhao, Mengping; Liu, Nan; and Xu, Huan Richard Dr, "The effects of physical activity timing and adherence to physical activity guidelines on sleep in children with ADHD" (2025). International Symposium of Adapted Physical Activity and International Symposium on Physical Activity and Visual Impairment and Deafblindness. 3.
https://sword.cit.ie/isapa/2025/day4/3
The effects of physical activity timing and adherence to physical activity guidelines on sleep in children with ADHD
Background
Regular physical activity (PA) benefits sleep, but its timing and adherence to the WHO's 60-minute MVPA guideline can affect sleep, especially in children with ADHD who frequently experience sleep problems. This study examines how exercise timing influences sleep parameters (e.g., sleep latency, sleep efficiency, total sleep time, and wake after sleep onset [WASO]) in children with ADHD.
Methods
This cross-sectional study included 229 children with ADHD (Mage=8.61 ± 1.30, 80.3% boys). PA timing was categorized as more than 8 hours before bedtime, 3–8 hours before, and less than 3 hours before. MVPA guideline attainment was defined as ≥ 60 minutes of MVPA daily. PA and sleep parameters were recorded by an ActiGraph GT9X accelerometer for 7 consecutive days.
Results
Of the 229 children with ADHD, 154 (67.2%) met WHO's 60-minute MVPA guideline. These children had better sleep outcomes than those who didn't meet the guideline, with shorter sleep latency (F=45.39, η²=.172), higher sleep efficiency (F=22.05, η²=.092), and less WASO (F=15.42, η²=.066). MVPA guideline attainment (β=-.290, p=.001) and exercising more than 8 hours before bedtime (β=-.247, p=.005) were linked to reduced sleep latency. Additionally, both meeting the MVPA guideline (β=.299, p=.001) and exercising more than 8 hours before bedtime (β=.272, p=.003) were associated with increased sleep efficiency, while exercising less than 3 hours before bedtime was associated with decreased sleep efficiency (β=-.229, p=.001).
Conclusion
The results emphasize that exercising more than 8 hours before bedtime and meeting the MVPA guideline are crucial for improving sleep in children with ADHD.