Sleep Quality in College Athletes

Abstract

Athlete sleep has been studied in controlled laboratory conditions. Investigations using all-night measurement of sleep (all-night polysomnograph), cortisol levels, and behavioral variables (mood, performance level) have identified some factors about athlete sleep. Afternoon training and sufficient time to recover after an event have been found to be significantly related to sleep quality. In an effort to understand the relationship between sleep and athletic performance, a case control study of athletes was conducted with college level athletes during the season and non-season intervals. Findings indicated factors of tiredness, variable sleep times and the value of sleep timing during recovery. Sleep Quality in College Athletes College level athletes balance study, practice schedules and game schedules for a successful college career. The athlete has control over their approach to their schedule. It is that adolescent sleep is influenced by school schedule [1]. Findings measuring the sleep quality of young adult sleep have identified variable sleep patterns with strong influence from schedules (i.e., social, academic, athletic) [2]. The college athlete has a complicated schedule of courses, homework assignments, study schedules and team practice. Sleep and Athletes Baekeland and Lasky (1966) [3] analyzed results from ten college athletes sleep under three different conditions of exercise. All night sleep measurements of athlete sleep revealed that delta sleep was greatest following afternoon exercise (40.1%), intermediate on nights of evening exercise (35.4%) and least on nights following exercise (32.5%) [3]. One conclusion was that metabolic effects precipitated by central nervous system activation may have precipitated the fragmented sleep quality following evening exercise. Also of significance from this study's results is that delta sleep was at a higher level in the athletes as compared to non-athletes and those reported as non-sedentary [4]. In an investigation of time of day of maximal aerobic exercise, evening trainings as compared to afternoon resulted in markedly poor sleep quality [5] reported significant differences between groups of athletes as compared to non-athletes in terms of sleep patterns and psychological functioning. The higher sleep quality of the athletes had reduced sleep onset latency, number of awakenings and daytime tiredness as compared to non-athletes [5]. Jurimae et al. [6] reported sleep quality differences in athletes (college rowers) during training, performance and recovery from training corresponding to plasma cortisol levels. Highest cortisol levels were found on recovery days. Complimentary to these findings, [7] reported that conditions of reduced exercise had significant effects on sleep with more fragmented sleep. Measurements of mental capacity, concentration, and speed in athletes (ballet dancers) were correlated with reductions in sleep duration and increases in fragmented sleep [8]. Anderson reported negative impact on athletic performance from lack of sleep. The intensity of athletes exercise is affected by sleep loss [9]. These findings highlight the differences between athletes and non-athlete sleep quality. In season, or during training and exercise, for the athlete, is optimal for sleep quality. Furthermore, the timing of exercise is significant with afternoon time trainings as the most advantageous to good sleep quality. In an effort to further understand the relationship of sleep quality a case control study was designed to measure sleep quality in college athletes during the season of their event and in non-season time. It is predicted that poor sleep quality will occur following evening athletic events for athletes as compared to morning or afternoon. Method Participants Students taking introductory psychology courses at a small liberal arts college in the Midwest were invited to participate in the study. Ten students of the 168 students enrolled in introductory psychology courses signed up for studies in exchange for course credit. The inclusion criterion was being a college athlete at the club, junior varsity or varsity level. No data was available about the number of athletes in the pool of 168 students. Three of the ten subjects dropped out due to disinterest. Five females and two males aged 19-20 years, completed the study. The study had internal review board approval. Instruments A stand interview about participants' sleep in terms of bedtime, wake times, minutes to fall asleep, number of wake ups, sleep environment, optimal time of alertness, effect of traveling for team on sleep, daytime sleepiness, sleep during athletic performance and following athletic performance. Each participant completed a standard sleep log during one week in season of their event and during non-season.