Sleep habits and social determinants of health in Argentine youth soccer players from a first-division club: an observational, descriptive, and cross-sectional study
Abstract
Objective: To describe sleep duration, perceived sleep quality, and social determinants of health in youth players from a first-division Argentine soccer team.
Materials y methods: An observational, descriptive, and cross-sectional study was conducted. Youth soccer players from a first-division club were selected. The quantity and quality of nocturnal sleep were self-reported. The sample was dichotomized based on 8 hours or less of nocturnal sleep . Group comparisons were performed using the chi-square test for categorical variables and the Student’s t test or the Wilcoxon test for continuous variables, depending on the normality of their distribution. A p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results: Of the players who responded to the survey, 32.3 % (n=54) slept more than 8 hours. The mean sleep duration was 7.05 hours (SD 0.83). Significant differences between groups were identified in commute time, means of transportation, and the person accompanying them to the club (p-value < 0.05). Perceived sleep quality and wake-up time were also identified as significant between groups (p-value < 0.05).
Conclusion: It was identified that 7 out of 10 youth soccer players sleep less than 8 hours. These players wake up earlier, report lower perceived sleep quality, have longer commute times, and attend training independently, mainly by public transportation.
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