Characterising and Comparing the Sleep Characteristics and Behaviours of Female and Male Soccer Players: A Cross-Sectional Survey of an Elite Soccer Club
The aim of this cross-sectional study was to evaluate the sleep characteristics and behaviours of senior male, senior female, and under 21 (U21) male elite soccer players using athlete-specific questionnaires. During the preseason/early season period, 74 players from the English Premier League (n =...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-06-01
|
| Series: | Sports |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4663/13/6/189 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850164826565771264 |
|---|---|
| author | Nicole Sanders Rebecca K. Randell Craig Thomas Stephen J. Bailey Tom Clifford |
| author_facet | Nicole Sanders Rebecca K. Randell Craig Thomas Stephen J. Bailey Tom Clifford |
| author_sort | Nicole Sanders |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The aim of this cross-sectional study was to evaluate the sleep characteristics and behaviours of senior male, senior female, and under 21 (U21) male elite soccer players using athlete-specific questionnaires. During the preseason/early season period, 74 players from the English Premier League (n = 26, age 26 ± 5 y), Women’s Super League (n = 22, age 25 ± 5 y), and English Premier League 2 (n = 26, age 19 ± 1 y) completed the validated Athlete Sleep Screening Questionnaire (ASSQ) to obtain a sleep difficulty score (SDS) and the Athlete Sleep Behaviour Questionnaire (ASBQ) to obtain a global score and individual behaviours. We found that sleep difficulty scores were higher in senior females (5.9 ± 1.9) than senior males (4.1 ± 1.7) and U21 males (4.3 ± 1.2) (<i>p</i> ≤ 0.006), but no severe clinical problems were noted. Global sleep behaviour scores from the ASBQ were worse in senior males (37.9 ± 6.5) and senior females (40.6 ± 7.1) than male U21 players (33.6 ± 4.7) (<i>p</i> ≤ 0.021). Senior players consumed more alcohol and stimulants and felt that travel disrupted sleep; females went to bed thirstier, woke more for the bathroom, and ruminated more prior to sleep (all <i>p</i> < 0.05). In conclusion, senior female players reported more sleep difficulties than male senior and male U21 players. Behaviours such as pre-bed rumination, nutrition, and travel plans could be targeted to improve sleep quality in soccer players. Study limitations include data drawn from a single club in the off-season. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d8884b686f444022b665a8cb4ba2d221 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2075-4663 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Sports |
| spelling | doaj-art-d8884b686f444022b665a8cb4ba2d2212025-08-20T02:21:53ZengMDPI AGSports2075-46632025-06-0113618910.3390/sports13060189Characterising and Comparing the Sleep Characteristics and Behaviours of Female and Male Soccer Players: A Cross-Sectional Survey of an Elite Soccer ClubNicole Sanders0Rebecca K. Randell1Craig Thomas2Stephen J. Bailey3Tom Clifford4School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, Loughborough University, Loughborough LE11 3HT, UKSchool of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, Loughborough University, Loughborough LE11 3HT, UKThe Northumbria Centre for Sleep Research, Northumbria University, Newcastle NE1 8ST, UKSchool of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, Loughborough University, Loughborough LE11 3HT, UKSchool of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, Loughborough University, Loughborough LE11 3HT, UKThe aim of this cross-sectional study was to evaluate the sleep characteristics and behaviours of senior male, senior female, and under 21 (U21) male elite soccer players using athlete-specific questionnaires. During the preseason/early season period, 74 players from the English Premier League (n = 26, age 26 ± 5 y), Women’s Super League (n = 22, age 25 ± 5 y), and English Premier League 2 (n = 26, age 19 ± 1 y) completed the validated Athlete Sleep Screening Questionnaire (ASSQ) to obtain a sleep difficulty score (SDS) and the Athlete Sleep Behaviour Questionnaire (ASBQ) to obtain a global score and individual behaviours. We found that sleep difficulty scores were higher in senior females (5.9 ± 1.9) than senior males (4.1 ± 1.7) and U21 males (4.3 ± 1.2) (<i>p</i> ≤ 0.006), but no severe clinical problems were noted. Global sleep behaviour scores from the ASBQ were worse in senior males (37.9 ± 6.5) and senior females (40.6 ± 7.1) than male U21 players (33.6 ± 4.7) (<i>p</i> ≤ 0.021). Senior players consumed more alcohol and stimulants and felt that travel disrupted sleep; females went to bed thirstier, woke more for the bathroom, and ruminated more prior to sleep (all <i>p</i> < 0.05). In conclusion, senior female players reported more sleep difficulties than male senior and male U21 players. Behaviours such as pre-bed rumination, nutrition, and travel plans could be targeted to improve sleep quality in soccer players. Study limitations include data drawn from a single club in the off-season.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4663/13/6/189sleep hygienesportfootball |
| spellingShingle | Nicole Sanders Rebecca K. Randell Craig Thomas Stephen J. Bailey Tom Clifford Characterising and Comparing the Sleep Characteristics and Behaviours of Female and Male Soccer Players: A Cross-Sectional Survey of an Elite Soccer Club Sports sleep hygiene sport football |
| title | Characterising and Comparing the Sleep Characteristics and Behaviours of Female and Male Soccer Players: A Cross-Sectional Survey of an Elite Soccer Club |
| title_full | Characterising and Comparing the Sleep Characteristics and Behaviours of Female and Male Soccer Players: A Cross-Sectional Survey of an Elite Soccer Club |
| title_fullStr | Characterising and Comparing the Sleep Characteristics and Behaviours of Female and Male Soccer Players: A Cross-Sectional Survey of an Elite Soccer Club |
| title_full_unstemmed | Characterising and Comparing the Sleep Characteristics and Behaviours of Female and Male Soccer Players: A Cross-Sectional Survey of an Elite Soccer Club |
| title_short | Characterising and Comparing the Sleep Characteristics and Behaviours of Female and Male Soccer Players: A Cross-Sectional Survey of an Elite Soccer Club |
| title_sort | characterising and comparing the sleep characteristics and behaviours of female and male soccer players a cross sectional survey of an elite soccer club |
| topic | sleep hygiene sport football |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4663/13/6/189 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT nicolesanders characterisingandcomparingthesleepcharacteristicsandbehavioursoffemaleandmalesoccerplayersacrosssectionalsurveyofanelitesoccerclub AT rebeccakrandell characterisingandcomparingthesleepcharacteristicsandbehavioursoffemaleandmalesoccerplayersacrosssectionalsurveyofanelitesoccerclub AT craigthomas characterisingandcomparingthesleepcharacteristicsandbehavioursoffemaleandmalesoccerplayersacrosssectionalsurveyofanelitesoccerclub AT stephenjbailey characterisingandcomparingthesleepcharacteristicsandbehavioursoffemaleandmalesoccerplayersacrosssectionalsurveyofanelitesoccerclub AT tomclifford characterisingandcomparingthesleepcharacteristicsandbehavioursoffemaleandmalesoccerplayersacrosssectionalsurveyofanelitesoccerclub |