Sociodemographic and sport factors related to sleep behavior in high performance athletes
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.11606/issn.1981-4690.2026e40215471Keywords:
Elite athletes, Sleep deprivation, Sports performance, Athlete Sleep Behavior QuestionnaireAbstract
This study aimed to analyze the sociodemographic, economic and sports factors associated with the presence of behavioral sleep disorders in high-performance athletes. Cross-sectional observational study carried out with 96 athletes from the Brazilian territory aged 18 years or older, more than 1 year of regular training, training frequency equal to or greater than 3 days a week and 5 hours a week, with participation in regional competition, national or international. The sample was recruited online, and participants answered an electronic form with information about sociodemographic, economic and sports characteristics. To assess sleep behavior, the Athlete Sleep Behavior Questionnaire was used. The sample was male, 27 years old, brown/black, did not have a partner, had completed high school, sport was not the only source of income and classified with normal BMI. They practiced the sport collectively, with 8 years of practice, trained 5 days a week and 2 hours a day, in addition to having competed in more than one type of competition. An altered sleep behavior was noticed in 84.4% of the athletes, in addition, the bad sleep behavior was associated with younger athletes, without partners, of the black or brown race, who had the sport as their only source of income and who self-reported negative influence of the pandemic on sports performance. Several factors are associated with poor sleep behavior in athletes, considering the complexity of this population and the various aspects that can influence their sleep. More studies are needed in this population to direct possible interventions to improve the quality of life, sleep, health and sports performance of these athletes.
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