Journal of Sleep Disorders & Therapy
Open Access

Abstract

Sleep Quality in College Athletes

Kathy Sexton-Radek, Ashley Hernandez and Stefanie Pauley

Athlete sleep has been studied in controlled laboratory conditions. Investigations using all-night measurement of sleep (all-night polysomnograph), cortisol levels, and behavioral variables (mood, performance level) have identified some factors about athlete sleep. Afternoon training and sufficient time to recover after an event have been found to be significantly related to sleep quality. In an effort to understand the relationship between sleep and athletic performance, a case control study of athletes was conducted with college level athletes during the season and nonseason intervals. Findings indicated factors of tiredness, variable sleep times and the value of sleep timing during recovery.