Sleep knowledge, attitudes and behaviours in rugby league: influences of age, body composition and ancestry

This study described the relationship of age, body composition and ancestry on sleep behavior, knowledge, and attitudes in rugby league athletes.

Fifty rugby league athletes completed the Sleep Practices and Attitudes Questionnaire alongside demographic information (age, body composition, ancestry). The results were compared based on age (<20 years old, 20-24 years old and >25 years), body composition (body fat percentage (%)) and ancestral groups (Pasifika, Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander (ATSI) and Anglo-European). Spearman's correlation determined the associations between body composition and sleep knowledge, beliefs and attitudes. An ANCOVA compared differences between ancestral groups with age and body composition as covariates, while a one-way ANOVA was used for age group comparisons.

Younger athletes had higher scores for eating/drinking in bed (p = 0.039), while those with higher body fat percentage read less in bed (p = 0.022) and reported lower sleep quality (p = 0.027). For ancestry, significantly lower sleep difficulty scores were reported for Anglo-European compared to both ATSI and Pasifika (p < 0.05) athletes. Furthermore, significantly higher self-reported sleep durations existed between Anglo-Europeans and Pasifika (p = 0.030). Ancestry affected coping with chronic insomnia (prioritize sleep, reduce caffeine), activities in bed (eat/drink, work/thinking) and the physical environment (dark, physically comfortable, comfortable temperature).

These findings underscore the importance of accounting for cultural and physiological variation when designing sleep education and interventions in rugby leagues. Future research needs to consider ancestry, body composition and age when assisting sleep educational programs during rugby league.