Examination of clinical sleep difficulties in college student-athletes

摘要

BACKGROUND: Due to the rising concern of inadequate sleep, critical analysis is needed for the presence of sleep problems in diverse popula-tions. Research has shown that college athletes may be one such population at risk for sleep disturbances. Poor sleep may lead to physiological, psychological, and cognitive deficits that can impact college athletes academically and athletically. This investigation was performed to examine the relationship of age, sex, and history of concussion on sleep disturbance in college athletes. METHODS: A total of 191 collegiate athletes between the ages of 18-26 from a single academic NCAA institution in the Rocky Mountain region of the USA, consented to participate in the study. Participants completed a demographic questionnaire and the Athlete Sleep Screening Question-naire (ASSQ). Results were analyzed using SPSS Version 27.RESULTS: Primary results revealed that female athletes reported higher sleep disturbance scores when compared to males (U=3643.0, P=0.016). Self-reported sleep disturbances when traveling for sport were higher for females (x(1) = 23.800, P<0.001). Males were also less likely to report daytime dysfunction when traveling for sport (x(1) =22.988, P<0.001). Sleep disturbance had a significant association with age (x(1) =4.145, P=0.042), with older participants (20+ years of age) reporting greater sleep disturbance. Concussion history did not associate with sleep disturbance in the present study. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that sophomore or older female may be at higher risk for sleep disturbances. Clarifying sex-specific sleep health and understanding the role of age and academic class is crucial to enhance and personalize interventions.(Cite this article as: Crutcher BB, Moran RN, Charest J, Leivo JN. Examination of clinical sleep difficulties in college student-athletes. J Sports Med Phys Fitness 2023;63:485-91. DOI: 10.23736/S0022-4707.22.14210-6)