Efficacy of a personalized sleep education program and its impact on academic performance in young team sports players

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of a sleep education program for young athletes in improving sleep quality, sleep duration, mood, and academic performance. Design: Prospective cohort study. Methods: A total of 639 athletes (11 % female; mean age: 13.89±3.8 years) from five sports disciplines in a professional club were evaluated before and after a sports season using four specific instruments: (1) sleep diaries to estimate nocturnal sleep duration, (2) the Children's Sleep Disorders Score Scale (SDSC) to assess sleep quality, (3) the Sleep Vitality Scale (SVS) to evaluate mood, and (4) school records to assess academic performance. The sleep education program involved staff, family, and individual sessions, focusing on promoting healthy sleep habits. Results: Athletes aged 16–25 years showed an increase in nocturnal sleep duration (p = 0.002), whereas those aged 12–15 years experienced a decrease (p = 0.01). No changes were observed in the 7–11-year-old group. In terms of sleep quality, significant improvements were observed in the 12–15-year-old (p < 0.001) and 16–25-year-old (p < 0.001) groups, while the 7–11-year-old group showed a decline (p = 0.001). Regarding mood, a significant deterioration was noted in the 7–11-year-old group (p = 0.008), with no changes in the older age groups. Academic performance significantly improved across all age groups: 7–11 years (p = 0.001), 12–15 years (p < 0.001), and 16–25 years (p = 0.008). Conclusions: The sleep education program effectively improved sleep quality and quantity in the two older age groups (12–25 years). However, it did not yield positive outcomes for the youngest group (7–11 years). All age groups showed a significant increase at the end of the season in academic performance.The sleep education program effectively improved sleep quality, duration, and academic performance in athletes aged 12–25 years. However, it did not yield positive outcomes for athletes aged 7–11 years.