Regular Practice of Competitive Sports Does Not Impair Sleep in Adolescents: DADOS Study

Abstract

Purpose:To analyze differences in sleep quality and duration by athletic status and sex, and to examine the association between physical activity (PA) recommendation and sleep in adolescents.Methods:A total of 267 adolescents [13.9 (0.3) y] from Deporte, ADOlescencia y Salud (DADOS) study (129 girls) were included in this cross-sectional analysis. Athletes competed regularly in organized sport events and trained ≥3 days per week, but nonathletes did not compete. PA was assessed by GENEActiv accelerometer. PA values were dichotomized into inactive (<60 min/d of moderate and vigorous PA) and active (≥60 min/d of moderate and vigorous PA). Sleep quality was evaluated with the Spanish version of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index values were dichotomized into >5 (poor quality) or ≤5 (good quality). Sleep duration was objectively measured by accelerometer.Results:Sleep quality and duration were not statistically different between athletes [median (Mdn) = 4.0, interquartile range (IQR) = 3.0–6.0 and Mdn = 8.0, IQR = 7.4–8.6 h, respectively] and nonathletes (Mdn = 5.0, IQR = 3.0–7.0 and Mdn = 7.9; IQR = 7.3–8.6 h, respectively), P > .05. Nonathlete or inactive adolescents did not show higher risk for poor sleep quality or short sleep duration than athletes [odds ratio (OR) = 1.17; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.68–2.00 and OR = 0.93; 95% CI, 0.56–1.55, respectively] or active peers (OR = 1.39; 95% CI, 0.66–2.89 and OR = 1.62; 95% CI, 0.78–3.37, respectively).Conclusions:In our group of adolescents, competitive sport practice did not alter sleep patterns. PA recommendations for adolescents may not discriminate between good and poor sleepers.