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Sleep Quality and Chronotype Differences between Elite Athletes and Non-Athlete Controls
Amy M Bender1, Hans P A Van Dongen2,3, Charles H Samuels1,4
1Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada.
Clocks & Sleep
|October 22, 2020
Summary
Elite athletes experience poorer sleep quality compared to non-athletes, despite similar sleep duration. This may be linked to a misalignment between their sleep schedule and natural circadian rhythms.
Area of Science:
- Sports Science
- Sleep Medicine
- Chronobiology
Background:
- Elite athletes often report insufficient sleep.
- Specific sleep disturbances in athletes compared to controls are not well-documented.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare subjective sleep quality and chronotype between elite athletes and a control group of non-athlete good sleepers.
- To investigate potential links between chronotype and sleep quality in elite athletes.
Main Methods:
- Sixty-three Canadian National Team athletes and 83 non-athlete controls completed the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and chronotype questionnaires.
- Subjective sleep quality and chronotype were compared between the two groups.
Main Results:
- Elite athletes reported significantly poorer sleep quality (PSQI global score 5.0 ± 2.6) than controls (2.6 ± 1.3).
- No significant differences in self-reported sleep duration were found between athletes and controls.
- Athletes exhibited a greater tendency toward morningness chronotype, despite similar bedtimes and wake times.
Conclusions:
- Elite athletes experience poorer subjective sleep quality than non-athlete good sleepers.
- A potential misalignment between sleep timing and circadian preference may contribute to reduced sleep quality in elite athletes.
- Further research is needed to explore the impact of circadian rhythm disruption on athlete performance and well-being.
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