Impact of a Physical Activity Intervention on Sleep Quality, Mental and Physical Well-Being in Health Sciences Students

NCT ID: NCT07140185

Last Updated: 2025-08-24

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: NOT_YET_RECRUITING
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 100 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2025-09-15
• Study Completion Date: 2025-12-20

Brief Summary

This randomized controlled trial aims to compare the effects of a regular weekly physical activity program versus a "Weekend Warrior" activity pattern on sleep quality, physical well-being, and mental well-being in sedentary university students. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of the intervention groups or to a control group and assessed at baseline and after the intervention.

Detailed Description

Sedentary behavior is a growing concern among university students and is associated with poor sleep quality, fatigue, and lower mental well-being. Physical activity interventions can improve these outcomes, but the optimal frequency and pattern of activity remain unclear. This randomized controlled trial will evaluate and compare the effects of a regular weekly physical activity schedule with those of a "Weekend Warrior" pattern, in which the recommended amount of exercise is concentrated in two sessions per week. Sedentary university students will be randomly assigned to one of two intervention groups or to a control group for an 8-10 week period. Sleep quality (measured by actigraphy), physical well-being, and mental well-being will be assessed before and after the intervention. The findings of this study may help to inform public health recommendations for physical activity patterns among young adults.

Conditions

Sleep Quality; Sedentary Lifestlye; Physical Activity; Well-being

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: PREVENTION
• Blinding Strategy: SINGLE

Study Groups

Arm 1 - Regular Weekly Physical Activity

Participants in this group will engage in structured physical activity sessions three times per week, each lasting 50 minutes, over a period of 8 weeks. The sessions include a combination of aerobic exercises, supervised by trained instructors. The goal is to distribute the recommended weekly activity evenly across the week.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Regular Weekly Physical Activity Program

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Structured physical activity sessions three times per week, 50 minutes each, over 8 weeks. Includes aerobic exercises, supervised by trained instructors. Goal is to distribute the recommended weekly activity evenly.

Arm 2 - Weekend Warrior Physical Activity

Participants in this group will perform the same total weekly physical activity as Arm 1, but concentrated in 2 sessions during the weekend. Each session lasts approximately 75 minutes and includes aerobic exercises, supervised by the same trained instructors.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Weekend Warrior Physical Activity Program

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Same total weekly activity as Arm 1, but concentrated in 2 weekend sessions of 75 minutes each. Includes aerobic exercises, supervised by the same trained instructors.

Arm 3 - Control / No Intervention

Participants in this group will maintain their usual lifestyle without any structured physical activity intervention during the study period. After study completion, they may be offered the Regular Weekly physical activity program.

Group Type: NO_INTERVENTION

No interventions assigned to this group

Interventions

Regular Weekly Physical Activity Program

Structured physical activity sessions three times per week, 50 minutes each, over 8 weeks. Includes aerobic exercises, supervised by trained instructors. Goal is to distribute the recommended weekly activity evenly.

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Weekend Warrior Physical Activity Program

Same total weekly activity as Arm 1, but concentrated in 2 weekend sessions of 75 minutes each. Includes aerobic exercises, supervised by the same trained instructors.

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Aged 18 to 25 years.
• Low level of physical activity, determined using the validated International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) according to its scoring thresholds.
• Provided written informed consent.
• Available to participate in the entire intervention program and all planned assessments.

Exclusion Criteria

• Current use of medications that may affect sleep quality or alertness (e.g., sedative hypnotics, sedative antidepressants, psychostimulants).
• History of serious medical conditions or any contraindication to moderate physical activity.
• Morbid obesity.
• Current pregnancy during the study period.
• Participation in another intervention program simultaneously.

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 25 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

University of Sfax

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Soumaya CHAABENE

Principal Investigator

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Jihen JDIDI TRABELSI, Professor

Role: STUDY_DIRECTOR

Faculty of Medicine of Sfax, Tunisia

Riadh DAHMEN, Professor

Role: STUDY_DIRECTOR

Higher Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Sfax, TUNISIA

Locations

Private Faculty of Health Sciences Sfax, Tunisia

Sfax, , Tunisia

Countries

Tunisia

Central Contacts

Soumaya CHAABENE, PhD student

Role: CONTACT

soumaya_chaabane@upsat.tn

+216 22 699 019

Soumaya CHAABENE, PhD student

Role: CONTACT

mayassou115@gmail.com

+216 22 699 019

Facility Contacts

Soumaya CHAABENE, PhD student

Role: primary

soumaya.chaabane@upsat.tn

+216 22 699 019

Other Identifiers

FMS110590-80-25

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id