Self-reported chronotype and objective sleep timing in university student athletes and non-athletes

Sleep Sci. 2022 Jul-Sep;15(3):351-355. doi: 10.5935/1984-0063.20220062.

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this paper was to test how sport participation and chronotype affect objectively measured sleep timing parameters on workdays.

Material and methods: The sample included 82 student athletes and 40 non-athletes who completed three-day wrist actigraphy monitoring and the Polish version of the Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire.

Results: Eveningness predicted later timing of falling asleep and mid-sleep, but not the wake-up time. Student athletes had earlier wake-up time and shorter sleep duration than non-athletes.

Discussion: The results support the view that university students suffer insufficient sleep, especially those participating in extensive sport activity.

Keywords: Actigraphy; Athletes; Circadian Rhythm; Sleep; Students.

Grants and funding

This research is a part of the project financed under the program of the Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education called “Academic Sport Development” in years 2015-2018 (project number: 0010/RS3/2015/53) and the program of the National Science Centre called Miniatura-1 (project number: 2017/01/X/HS6/01191)