Relationship between sleep quality and psychological aspects in college athletes

Authors

• Julio Cesar Barbosa de Lima Pinto Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brasil.
• Micael Domingos de Medeiros Faculdade Terra Nordeste
• André Igor Fonteles Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia do Ceará – IFCE, Itapipoca, CE, Brasil

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17058/s446am49

Keywords:

Athletes, Sleep quality, Mood, Stress

Abstract

Introduction: Insufficient sleep is associated with poor cognitive performance, which can negatively impact psychological aspects in athletes. Objective: To evaluate sleep quality and sleepiness in college athletes and the relationship between sleep variables and mood state and stress tolerance. Methods: This is an observational, cross-sectional study with a quantitative approach. Sixty-six college athletes of both genders from a public higher education institution participated. Information was collected on the characterization of the participants and questionnaires to assess sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index - PSQI), sleepiness (Epworth Sleepiness Scale), mood state (Brunel Mood Scale), and stress tolerance (Daily Analysis of Life Demands in Athletes).

Results: 57% (n=38) had poor sleep quality, and 18.2% (n=12) were classified with a sleep disorder, while 36.4% presented excessive daytime sleepiness. There were correlations between sleep variables: PSQI, sleepiness with mood state, and stress tolerance. Conclusion: College athletes have a high prevalence of poor sleep quality, a positive relationship between sleep quality and mood state, and a negative relationship with stress tolerance. Worse mood and stress scores were related to sleep variables.

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