1136 SLEEP DURATION AND QUALITY ASSOCIATED WITH MENTAL WELL-BEING IN STUDENT ATHLETES

Abstract

Introduction: Sleep difficulties are common among student athletes, who are often over-scheduled and balancing academic with athletics. This group is also at high risk of poor mental health. This study uses validated measures to quantify this relationship. Methods: Data were collected from N=190 NCAA Division-1 student athletes. Sleep assessments included the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index[PSQI] (global score and sleep duration item), Insomnia Severity Index[ISI], and Fatigue Severity Scale[FSS]. Mental well-being was assessed as depression (Centers for Epidemiology Depression Scale[CESD]), anxiety (GAD7 questionnaire), mental health days (days in the past month of poor mental health), social support (Multivariable Scale of Perceived Social Support[MSPSS] subscales for family, friends, and significant-other; friends scale used to generate “teammates” subscale), and stress (Perceived Stress Scale[PSS]). Regression analyses were adjusted for age, sex, and year in school. Results: Poor sleep quality was associated with depression (B=1.14, p<0.0001), anxiety (B=0.79, p<0.0001), stress (B=1.04, p<0.0001), fewer healthy days (B=1.03, p<0.0001), and less support from family (B=-0.31, p=0.014), friends (B=-0.37, p=0.003), significant-other (B=-0.33, p=0.022), and teammates (B=-0.39, p=0.001). Insomnia was associated with depression (B=0.85, p<0.0001), anxiety (B=0.50, p<0.0001), stress (B=0.78, p<0.0001), fewer healthy days (B=0.60, p<0.0001), and less support from family (B=-0.30, p<0.0001), friends (B=-0.28, p<0.0001), significant-other (B=-0.23, p=0.006), and teammates (B=-0.33, p<0.0001). Fatigue was associated with depression (B=0.31, p<0.0001), anxiety (B=0.17, p<0.0001), stress (B=0.24, p<0.0001), fewer healthy days (B=0.19, p<0.0001), and less support from family (B=-0.08, p=0.018) and teammates (B=-0.10, p=0.003). Longer sleep duration was associated with less depression (B=-1.85, p<0.0001), anxiety (B=-0.78, p=0.006), stress (B=-1.00, p=0.03), and more support from family (B=0.93, p=0.005). To determine whether these relationships were simply explained by stress, PSS score was entered as a covariate. In this case, nearly all relationships remained significant. Conclusion: Short sleep duration, poor sleep quality, and daytime fatigue in student athletes are all associated with depression, anxiety, stress, poor mental health days, and decreased social support. These associations are not accounted for solely by stress.