Relationships Between Training Load, Perceived Cognitive Load and Sleep in Student-Athletes

Area of Science:

• Sports Science
• Sleep Research
• Exercise Physiology

Background:

• Student-athletes require optimal sleep for academic and athletic success.
• Understanding factors affecting sleep in this population is crucial.
• Previous research has explored training load's impact, but cognitive aspects need further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the relationship between training load (TL), perceived cognitive workload, and sleep in male varsity volleyball athletes.
• To identify physiological and cognitive mechanisms contributing to post-match sleep disturbances.

Main Methods:

• A 12-week study involving 12 varsity male volleyball players.
• Daily surveys assessed sleep, internal TL, and cognitive load.
• Wearable jump monitors measured external TL.
• Pre-Sleep Arousal Scale and Ottawa Mental Skills Assessment Tool were administered.

Main Results:

• Perceived cognitive load negatively affected total sleep time and sleep quality.
• Internal TL was detrimental to sleep quality.
• Cognitive pre-sleep arousal negatively correlated with sleep efficiency and sleep onset latency.
• Mental skills did not show an effect on post-match sleep.

Conclusions:

• Assessing perceived cognitive workload is vital for monitoring student-athletes.
• Elevated cognitive arousal is associated with increased sleep onset latency and decreased sleep efficiency post-match.
• Cognitive arousal appears to be the primary driver of post-match sleep difficulties, rather than physiological arousal.