Associations between sleep disturbance, physical activity, and anxiety sensitivity among college students during the COVID-19 pandemic

The present study sought to examine associations between anxiety sensitivity and both sleep and physical activity among college students, who are particularly vulnerable to sleep disturbance, decreased physical activity, and the development of psychopathology, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants were 683 college students (M-age = 20.33, SD = 3.58; 72% female; 70.3% White) who completed self-report measures online for course credit. Results indicated that after controlling for the effects of age, gender identity, and race, greater sleep disturbance was significantly associated with higher overall anxiety sensitivity (7% unique variance; beta = 0.27, t = 6.67, p < .001) as well as its three subdomains (physical concerns: 4% variance; beta = 0.21, t = 4.97, p < .001; cognitive concerns: 6% variance; beta = 0.25, t = 6.17, p < .001; social concerns: 6% variance; beta = 0.26, t = 6.22, p < .001). Additionally, more time spent walking was associated with greater anxiety sensitivity physical concerns (1% variance; beta = 0.11, t = 2.52, p = .012) and greater vigorous intensity physical activity was associated with lower anxiety sensitivity social concerns (1% variance; beta = -0.13, t = -2.76, p = .006). These findings suggest that sleep problems may be more universally relevant to anxiety sensitivity than physical activity and interventions to promote healthier sleep may be useful for decreasing anxiety sensitivity in college students.