Background: Exercise has beneficial effects for physical health outcomes and has also been shown to reduce the severity of psychological health symptoms. Recent studies have shown a potentially positive impact of exercise on posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Prominent among those with PTSD, sleep disturbance and nightmares are among the top three PTSD symptoms commonly reported by treatment-seeking Veterans. Regular physical exercise has been consistently associated with better sleep. This study utilized a longitudinal design to explore the relationship between exercise and sleep among Veterans with PTSD symptoms at baseline and one-year follow-up.
Materials and methods: Veterans (n = 76) who served in support of Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation New Dawn were recruited for this study. Correlations were assessed between PTSD symptoms, sleep, and engagement in exercise at each time point (baseline, one-year follow-up). Regression analyses were conducted to examine the relationship between engagement in exercise at baseline and PTSD symptoms at one-year follow-up, as well as sleep quality at one-year follow-up. Regression models controlled for demographic variables (age and gender), alcohol use, baseline PTSD symptoms, and baseline sleep quality.
Results: Multiple regression analyses demonstrated that engagement in exercise at baseline was significantly associated with better sleep quality at one-year follow-up while controlling for age, gender, alcohol use, baseline PTSD symptoms, and baseline sleep quality (β = -0.128, p < 0.05). Multiple regression analyses examining the relationship between engagement in exercise at baseline and PTSD symptoms at one-year follow-up (controlling for age, gender, alcohol use, baseline PTSD symptoms, and baseline sleep quality) did not yield statistically significant results (β = 0.053, p = 0.57).
Conclusion: Results from the present study found that engagement in exercise at baseline was associated with better sleep quality at one-year follow-up. These findings were consistent with the current literature suggesting exercise can have a positive impact on sleep quality. Furthermore, our findings suggest that exercise could be considered as an adjunctive intervention for individuals with PTSD-particularly for those patients whose difficulties with sleep are predominant. Given that exercise is highly accessible and is embedded in the military culture, future research should examine the way in which exercise can be leveraged in PTSD treatment, specifically in ameliorating sleep difficulties. Exercise may also reap demonstrable public health benefits in multiple psychological and physical domains and reduce the psychiatric and medical morbidity and mortality associated with PTSD.
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