Sleep interventions for performance, mood and sleep outcomes in athletes: A systematic review and meta-analysis. (January 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gwyther, Kate; Rice, Simon; Purcell, Rosemary; Pilkington, Vita; Santesteban-Echarri, Olga; Bailey, Alan; Walton, Courtney C.
• Is Part Of: Psychology of sport and exercise. Volume 58(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-01
• Subjects: Sleep -- Athletes -- Mental health -- Intervention -- Performance; Sports -- Psychological aspects -- Periodicals; Exercise -- Psychological aspects -- Periodicals; Psychology -- Periodicals; Sports -- Periodicals; Exercise -- Periodicals; Societies, Medical -- Periodicals; Psychology; Sports; Exercise; Societies, Medical; Sports -- Aspect psychologique -- Périodiques; Exercice -- Aspect psychologique -- Périodiques; 613.71019
• DOI: 10.1016/j.psychsport.2021.102094
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1469-0292

Abstract

Abstract: Sleep is fundamental to sports performance and other health outcomes such as mental wellbeing. This systematic review explored the effects of sleep interventions implemented among athletes on performance, sleep, and mood outcomes. Five databases were searched, returning 5996 records for screening. Of these, 27 articles met the inclusion criteria (16 controlled deigns, 11 uncontrolled; athletes n = 617; male n = 432, female n = 93, non-binary/other n = 0 or not reported n = 92). Narrative synthesis of all studies based on intervention type suggested that sleep hygiene, assisted sleep, and sleep extension interventions may be associated with improved sleep, performance, and mood outcomes. Twelve controlled trials were eligible for quantitative meta-analysis, investigating the effect of sleep interventions on athlete sleep, performance, and negative affect, compared to controls post-intervention. Utilizing random-effects meta-analyses, sleep interventions improved subjective sleep quality ( g = 0.62, 95% CI [0.21, 1.02]), reduced sleepiness ( g = 0.81, 95% CI [0.32, 1.30]) and decreased negative affect ( g = 0.63, 95% CI [0.27, 0.98]), but did not appear to influence subjective sleep duration. No effects were identified for objective sleep measures (e.g., actigraphy), or aerobic/anaerobic performance indices. While sleep interventions may offer some benefit to athletes, caution is warranted given limitations of the extant research relating to small, non-representative studies with methodological concerns. Highlights: The effects of sleep interventions on performance, sleep, and mood were explored. Sleep hygiene, assisted sleep, and sleep extension interventions appear beneficial. Subjective sleep quality, sleepiness, and negative affect all showed improvement. Conclusions are hindered by low study quality and small non-representative samples. Sleep interventions may improve a range of performance and well-being outcomes.