The impact of training schedule on athletes' sleep problems

Abstract

Objective: Sleep has a significant impact on athletes. Studies demonstrate that athletes sleep less than recommended. The cause for this inadequate sleep is considered multifaceted. There are indications that athletes´ training schedules could play a critical role in athletes’ sleep. The aim of the current study was to evaluate and compare the effect of different training schedules on athletes‘ sleep problems, total sleep time, and sleep quality. Method: Two hundred sixty-nine athletes over 18 years old from Reykjavik answered the Athletes Sleep Screening Questionnaire (ASSQ), along with questions about their training schedule. Based on answers on ASSQ, a Sleep Difficulty Score was calculated, allowing the categorization of athletes according to their sleep problems: None, mild, moderate, and severe. The Athletes’ training schedule was divided into four categories: morning, midday, evening, and morning/evening. A Chi-Square Test of Independence and Logistic Regression was used to examine the relationship between athletes’ training schedule and their sleep problems, total sleep time and sleep quality. Results: There was a significant association between athletes’ training schedule and their sleep problems, total sleep time, and sleep quality. Evening training had an adverse impact on their sleep problem, total sleep time, and sleep quality, and they were 2.5 times more likely to experience sleep problems than midday training. Early morning training had no impact on athletes’ sleep problems, total sleep time and sleep quality. Conclusion: Athletes’ training schedule had a considerable effect on their sleep problems, total sleep time and sleep quality.