The Prospective Association Between Physical Activity, Insomnia Symptoms, and Productivity in an Australian Population-Based Cohort.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the joint, prospective associations of physical inactivity and insomnia symptoms and productivity using the 2013 and 2014 household income and labor dynamics in Australia Survey panel data. METHODS: The association between (i) presenteeism (yes/no, n = 5864) and (ii) absenteeism (sick leave days, n = 4324) and the mutually exclusive groups "active without insomnia," "active with insomnia," "inactive without insomnia," and "inactive with insomnia" was assessed. RESULTS: Participants "active with insomnia" or "inactive with insomnia" had greater odds of presenteeism than those "active without insomnia" (odds ratio [OR] = 1.41, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.07 to 1.85 and OR = 1.44, 95% CI 1.14 to 1.83, respectively). Participants "inactive with insomnia" had a greater incidence of absenteeism than participants "active without insomnia" (incidence rate ratio [IRR] = 1.28, 95% CI 1.07 to 1.54). CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest improving physical activity levels and insomnia symptoms concurrently may improve productivity by reducing presenteeism and sick leave.