Sleep Quality and Quality of Life Among Healthy High School Athletes

Abstract

We examined the association between sleep quality and quality of life (QOL) among uninjured high school athletes. Participants completed the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Pediatric Profile 25 questionnaire. One hundred ten athletes reported poor sleep quality (mean PSQI: 6.6 ± 2.0; mean age: 15.3 ± 1.1; 62% female); 162 athletes reported good sleep quality (mean PSQI: 2.3 ± 1.3; mean age: 15.1 ± 1.7; 33% female). After adjusting for sex and age, worse sleep quality was associated with higher physical function/mobility (β = 0.034; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.007-0.060; P = .01), anxiety (β= 0.391; 95% CI = 0.263-0.520; P < .001), depressive symptom (β = 0.456; 95% CI = 0.346-0.565; P < .001), fatigue (β = 0.537; 95% CI = 0.438-0.636; P < .001), pain interference (β = 0.247; 95% CI = 0.119-0.375; P < .001), and pain intensity (β = 0.103; 95% CI = 0.029-0.177; P = .006) ratings. Poor self-reported sleep quality among adolescent athletes was associated with worse QOL ratings. Clinicians should consider assessing sleep hygiene to provide guidance on issues pertaining to reduced QOL.