Sleep quality of student athletes and non-athletes - the role of chronotype, stress and life satisfaction.
Level 4 - case-series / case-control
Cross-sectional observational survey study
PubMed 33564372 · doi:10.5935/1984-0063.20190153
What was done
A cross-sectional survey evaluated 335 healthy university students, categorized into student athletes (n = 207) and non-athletes with low physical activity (n = 128, identified via the International Physical Activity Questionnaire short form). Participants completed the Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire, Perceived Stress Scale, Satisfaction with Life Scale, and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Path analysis tested the relationships between chronotype, stress, life satisfaction, and sleep quality across both groups.
What was found
Student athletes reported significantly lower perceived stress (p < 0.001), higher life satisfaction (p < 0.001), and better sleep quality (p < 0.001) compared to non-athletes. Non-athletes showed a stronger evening preference (p < 0.001), though mean scores for both groups fell in the intermediate chronotype range. Path analysis showed that a morningness preference directly predicted better sleep quality, an effect partially mediated by lower perceived stress (p < 0.001). No specific effect sizes, mean values, or regression coefficients were reported in the abstract.
Why it matters
The findings indicate that physical activity, morning circadian preference, and lower stress are concurrently associated with better sleep in university students, highlighting stress management as a potential target to alleviate sleep problems linked to evening chronotypes.
Limits
The cross-sectional design precludes causal conclusions regarding whether athletic participation directly improves sleep or stress. All outcomes were measured via self-report questionnaires rather than objective measures like actigraphy or polysomnography. Exact numerical values, effect sizes, and demographic details were not reported in the abstract.
Cited by
- supports Athletes are, on average, less likely to be late chronotypes (night owls) compared to non-athletes of the same age.