Sleep quality and the cortisol awakening response (CAR) among law enforcement officers: The moderating role of leisure time physical activity.

•Physical activity moderated association of poor sleep quality with cortisol awakening response (CAR) in police officers.•In inactive officers, poor sleep quality was associated with lower morning cortisol and dampened profile during CAR period.•In sufficiently active officers, poor sleep quality was not associated with morning cortisol level or CAR profile.•Being sufficiently active may be protective of aberrant CAR associated with poor sleep quality.