Bekir Erhan Orhan1, Buket Kararadağ2, Walaa Alkasasbeh3, Aydin Karaçam4
1Istanbul Aydin University, Faculty of Sports Sciences, Istanbul, Turkiye
2Istanbul Aydın University, Faculty of Education, Istanbul, Türkiye
3The University of Jordan, School of Sports Science, Department of Physical Education, Amman, Jordan
4Bandırma Onyedi Eylül University, Faculty of Sports Sciences, Balıkesir, Türkiye
Examination of the Relationship Between Attitudes Towards Healthy Nutrition and Sleep Quality: The Role of Lifestyle Factors
Sport Mont 2026, 24(1), Ahead of Print | DOI: 10.26773/smj.260205
Abstract
The relationship between lifestyle factors such as sleep quality and dietary habits has attracted growing interest due to their combined influence on overall well-being. Poor sleep quality has been linked to impaired cognitive functioning and emotional regulation, which may contribute to less healthy food choices, whereas a nutritious diet can support better sleep. This study examined the associations between sleep quality and attitudes toward healthy nutrition among adults living in Türkiye and explored how lifestyle factors (physical activity, smoking, alcohol consumption) relate to these variables. A convenience sample of 358 adults completed an online survey. Of the 358 survey responses collected, 346 were deemed valid and included in the final analysis after excluding 12 unsuitable entries. Sleep quality was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and attitudes were measured with the Attitudes Towards Healthy Nutri tion Scale (ASHN). A weak negative correlation was found between sleep quality and attitudes toward healthy nutrition (r=−0.205, p<0.001), indicating that approximately 4% of the variance in nutrition attitudes was explained (r²=0.042). Similar weak negative correlations were observed across the ASHN subdimensions. In addition, lifestyle factors were associated with both sleep quality and nutrition attitudes; notably, daily physical activity demonstrated a moderate as sociation with ASHN (η²=0.108). Public health initiatives that incorporate sleep hygiene education may be modestly associated with more positive nutrition-related attitudes, but the small effect size indicates that sleep should be consid ered only one minor component within broader, multifactorial interventions targeting diet, physical activity, emotional regulation, and other aspects of healthy living.
Keywords
sleep health, diet quality, physical activity, health behaviours, exercise
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