Sleep quality in Olympic and non-Olympic combat sports: associations with sex, rapid weight loss, and sport age (a PSQI-based analysis)

Background Sleep quality is an important component of recovery and performance in athletes. Combat sport athletes may be at increased risk of sleep disturbances due to high training demands and weight-management practices. Methods This cross-sectional study included 498 athletes competing in Olympic and non-Olympic combat sports (mean age ≈21 years). Poor sleep quality (PSQI > 5) was examined using multivariable logistic regression to assess associations with sex, sport type, rapid weight loss (>4%), and sport age. A secondary model was conducted in the Olympic subsample. Continuous sleep outcomes were analyzed using two-way ANOVA. Results Poor sleep quality was common among athletes, with 65% of participants classified as poor sleepers (PSQI > 5). In the full sample, male sex (OR = 1.65, 95% CI: 1.20–2.30), Olympic sport participation (OR = 1.75, 95% CI: 1.25–2.45), and rapid weight loss >4% (OR = 2.70, 95% CI: 1.80–4.00) were associated with higher odds of poor sleep quality, and sport age was also positively associated (OR = 1.03, 95% CI: 1.01–1.05). Similar associations were observed in the Olympic subsample. In addition, athletes competing in Olympic combat sports showed higher scores across several PSQI components compared to those in non-Olympic disciplines. Conclusion Poor sleep quality is common among combat sport athletes and is associated with sport type and weight-management practices. These findings suggest that sleep disturbances may be related to sport-specific demands. Further research using longitudinal designs and objective sleep measures is needed to clarify these associations.