A Comparative Study of Sleep Quality in Athletes & Non Athletes

Background: As we know that sleep is important factor for all of us, but little is known regarding athletesleep quality. It has been reported that sleep may be compromised in athletes by many factors, like increasein core temperature following exercise, increase in muscle tension, fatigue and pain following training andcompetition.Objective: The objective of present study was to assess normative sleep quality among highly trainedathletes.Method: 50 athletes (short distance runners) & 50 non athletes were taken who were of 18 to 25 years. Theywere given Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) questionnaire to assess their sleep quality. Results werestatistically analysed using student ‘t’ test.Results: Different components of PSQI questionnaire were assessed in both case & control group. Component1- subjective sleep quality, component 2- sleep latency, component 3- sleep duration, component 4- sleepefficiency were better in controls than athletes with a p<0.05. Component 5- sleep disturbance & component7- daytime dysfunction scores were higher in athletes than controls (p<0.05). Component 6- use of sleepmedication was not statistically significant. So, the overall global score was higher in athletes indicatingbetter sleep quality in controls.Conclusion: We conclude that controls have better sleep quality than athletes.