Quality of Athletic Trainers' Nutrition, Sleep, Cognitive, and Emotional State: A Cross Sectional Study

Poor sleep quality and nutrition are associated with impaired cognitive and emotional state. Athletic trainers often maintain a strenuous schedule, which may impact sleep and nutrition quality. The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between athletic trainers' sleep and nutrition quality with emotional and cognitive well-being. This cross-sectional study utilized an online survey sent to active certified athletic trainers working in a multitude of clinical settings. The survey included the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Questionnaire, Short Healthy Eating Index Questionnaire, Cognitive Assessment Questionnaire and Patient Health Questionnaire. Among the 148 responses, mean participant scores showed low sleep quality, below average nutrition scores, risk for depression, but normal cognition. Correlational analysis revealed several statistically significant correlations. Sleep quality and cognitive function showed a positive association (p<0.001, r=0.274). Sleep quality also had a positive relationship with emotional state (p<0.001, r=0.563). Nutrition did not have significant relationships with cognitive function or depression in the sampled population. The data suggest sleep quality may have an impact on athletic trainers' cognitive function and emotional state.