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TEN WEEKS OF RESISTANCE EXERCISE DOES NOT IMPROVE OBJECTIVE SLEEP MEASURES IN YOUNG BLACK WOMEN

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Black Americans exhibit poorer sleep quality (e.g., duration and efficiency) than any other ethnic group in America. Importantly, poor sleep is associated with incident cardiometabolic risk factors and disease states, such as obesity, type II diabetes, and heart disease. Although long-term resistance exercise (RE) has been associated with improved sleep quality, its effects in young Black women have been understudied. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to assess the differences in sleep quality before and after a 10-week RE intervention in young Black women. METHODS: Fourteen young Black women (22.7 ± 3.6 yrs) participated in a 10-week, supervised (biweekly) RE training intervention. At pre- and post-testing visits, self-reported sleep quality was assessed by the Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) scored 0 [better] to 21 [worse]. Objective sleep duration and efficiency were measured using Phillips Actiwatch Spectrum PLUS accelerometers (worn on the dorsal side of the wrist) during a pre-training familiarization period and week 10 of the RE program. Participants wore the devices for a minimum of a 5-day observation period (5.92 ± 1.25 days). Three women did not meet this requirement, and data were not included for analysis. Statistical analyses included paired-samples t-tests for normally distributed variables and Wilcoxon signed-rank test for non-normally distributed variables to detect pre- to post-intervention differences for all variables. RESULTS: The PSQI global scores trended towards significance for improved sleep quality (n = 14; pre = 5.5 ± .85 vs. post = 4.7 ± 1.2, Z = -1.774, p = .076). There were no differences in objectively measured sleep duration (n = 11; pre = 7.00 ± .60 hrs vs. post = 6.96 ± 1.06 hrs, t(10) = .139, p = .892) and efficiency (n = 11; pre = 87.35 ± 4.87 vs. post = 86.68 ± 5.60, t(10) = .43, p = .68). CONCLUSION: These preliminary data indicate that a 10-week RE intervention tended to improve self-reported sleep quality despite no differences in objectively measured sleep in young Black women. Future interventions, in larger cohorts, should consider incorporating theory-based behavioral practices targeting sleep wellness, in addition to RE, to help improve sleep in Black women.

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