Mental Health in Student Athletes: Associations With Sleep Duration, Sleep Quality, Insomnia, Fatigue, and Sleep Apnea Symptoms

PURPOSE: To quantify the relationship between sleep difficulties and poor mental health among student athletes using validated measures. METHODS: Data were collected from 190 National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I student athletes. Sleep assessments included measures of sleep duration, sleep quality, insomnia, fatigue, and sleep apnea symptoms. Mental well-being was assessed as depression, anxiety, mental health days, stress, and social support from family, friends, significant other, and teammates. RESULTS: Shorter sleep duration, poor sleep quality, insomnia, and fatigue were consistently and independently associated with stress, depression, anxiety, mental health days, and social support. Sleep apnea symptoms were associated with stress, depression, and social support. CONCLUSIONS: Short sleep duration, poor sleep quality, and daytime fatigue in student athletes are all associated with depression, anxiety, stress, poor mental health days, and decreased social support. These associations are not accounted for solely by stress.