Objective: The aim of this paper was to cross-sectionally examine the association between physical health indicators and PTSD symptomatology.
Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted among inpatients of a service related trauma-focused ward. Physical and mental health indicators including sleep quality, fitness, physical activity, body mass index and PTSD symptomatology were assessed.
Results: Among 60 inpatients, significant associations were found between sedentary time (r = 0.42; p < .001) and sleep quality (r = 0.40; p < .001) with PTSD symptomatology. The vast majority of inpatients (n = 56; 93%) were found to be either overweight or obese according to body mass index.
Conclusion: Inpatients of a PTSD treatment facility had extremely high rates of obesity, physical inactivity, poor cardiorespiratory fitness and poor sleep quality. Sedentary behaviour is a modifiable risk factor associated with symptoms and physical health.
Keywords: obesity; physical activity; physical health; posttraumatic stress disorder; sleep.