Research Symposium

BIO

Millicent Fox is a sophomore undergraduate student majoring in Biology and minoring in Chemistry and Spanish. She is from Jacksonville, Florida and is on the pre-med track with experience as a Medical Assistant and two Obstetrics and Gynecology offices, works as a media manager for one of those offices, and works as a respite care provider in Tallahassee. She has done research projects in middle school and high school about surgical site infections. She is a member of the Honors Program and a recipient of the Bright Futures and FSU Vires Scholarship. She works alongside her mentor, Laynie Thompson, PhD student, and Dr. Robert Hickner.

Impact of Exercise on Physiological and Psychological Indicators of Sleep Quality in Pre-Diabetic Postmenopausal Women

Abstract

Menopause is an inevitable life stage impacting over half of the population, leading to significant mental and physiological changes. This study is ongoing and investigates the feasibility of exercise as a non-pharmacological intervention for the treatment of symptoms in post-menopausal women with obesity and prediabetes. In our research, four participants were randomly assigned to resistance or endurance training groups. To measure objective sleep parameters, such as heart rate and distinct sleep stages, participants also wore an Oura Ring 4 throughout the six weeks. Furthermore, participants’ subjective sleep quality and menopausal symptoms were evaluated via the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Menopause Rating Scale (MRS). We hypothesized that exercise would cause an increase in time spent in deep sleep and would improve perception of sleep quality. With a small sample size and the study still ongoing, we can only posit that our preliminary results indicate a trend towards improved strength, enhanced subjective sleep quality, and potential reductions in menopausal symptoms following the six-week exercise program. Further participant recruitment is necessary to enhance the statistical power to confirm these effects, yet our findings are promising in the potential application of exercise as a non-pharmacological strategy to improve sleep and menopausal health in this population.

Keywords: Sleep, Post-menopause, exercise