Relationship between Walking Activity and Sleep Quality among Community-Dwelling Older Adults

Purpose: To explore the relationship between walking activity and sleep quality among elderly. Design: A cross-sectional, correlation study with purposive sampling was conducted on participants with a walking habit but not regular moderate-intensity exercise. Methods: Data were collected by structured questionnaires, including the Walking Activity Questionnaire and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Findings: The total walking time per week and frequency of walking per day were significant predictors of sleep quality. Conclusions: Walking can help older community-dwelling adults improve their sleep quality. Clinical evidence: Walking more than once per day and total walking time per week >= 210 minutes were associated with good sleep quality.