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Original Article

Sleep Quality and Well-Being in Junior Elite Athletes

Published Online:December 12, 2022https://doi.org/10.1026/1612-5010/a000369

Abstract

Abstract. Little cross-sectional and even less longitudinal research has been conducted on sleep quality and well-being in junior elite athletes. This study analyzed the relationship between subjective sleep quality and both psychological and physiological well-being in junior elite athletes using both a cross-sectional (N = 625 athletes; 49.9 % = female; M = 16.4 years, SD = 3.5 years) and a longitudinal approach (n = 79; 44.3 % = female; M = 16.4 years, SD = 3.5 years) over a period of M = 1.66 years (SD = 0.87 years). The results demonstrated that both samples showed that subjective sleep quality is correlated with well-being in junior elite athletes. In addition, the results showed that athletes of prepuberty age reported significantly better sleep quality than athletes during and after puberty, and that the relationship between sleep quality and psychological well-being is stronger in female junior athletes than in male athletes. This study emphasizes the need to ensure quality sleep in junior elite athletes.


Schlafqualität und Wohlbefinden bei Nachwuchssportler_innen

Zusammenfassung. Der Zusammenhang von Schlafqualität und Wohlbefinden bei Nachwuchsleistungssportler_innen ist bislang selten im Querschnitt und noch seltener im Längsschnitt untersucht worden. Ziel dieser Studie war die Beziehung zwischen subjektiver Schlafqualität sowie dem psychischen und physischen Wohlbefinden bei Nachwuchsleistungssportler_innen im Quer- (N = 625; 49.9 % = weiblich; M = 16.4 Jahre, SD = 3.5 Jahre) und Längsschnitt (n = 79; 44.3 % = weiblich; M = 16.4 Jahre, SD = 3.5 Jahre) über einen Zeitraum von M = 1.66 Jahren (SD = 0.87 Jahre) zu untersuchen. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass die subjektive Schlafqualität sowohl im Quer- als auch im Längsschnitt mit dem Wohlbefinden korreliert. Darüber hinaus zeigen die Ergebnisse, dass prä-pubertäre Sportler_innen eine signifikant bessere Schlafqualität berichten als post-pubertäre Sportler_innen. Die Beziehung zwischen Schlafqualität und psychischem Wohlbefinden ist bei Nachwuchsleistungssportlerinnen stärker als bei -sportlern. Die Studie hebt die Notwendigkeit guter Schlafqualität bei Nachwuchsleistungssportler_innen hervor.

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