Sleep Quality and Athletic Performance: Behavioral Insights from University Student Athletes

Sleep quality plays a critical role in athletes' physical and mental recovery, significantly influencing their performance and overall well-being. While extensive research has examined sleep within the general population, a gap remains in understanding the specific effects of sleep quality and behaviours on university athletes facing unique stressors and demands. This study investigated the impact of sleep quality and behaviours among student-athletes enrolled at three public universities in northern Malaysia. Employing the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and the Athlete Sleep Behavior Questionnaire (ASBQ), the research assessed multiple dimensions of sleep, including subjective sleep quality, sleep onset latency, sleep duration, sleep disturbances, sleep efficiency, use of sleep aids, daytime dysfunction, as well as habitual, environmental, behavioral, and sport-related factors. A total of 279 student-athletes were analysed using Spearman's rank correlation. Significant associations were identified between sleep quality and sleep behaviours, particularly linking subjective sleep quality with routine and behavioral factors. Results indicated a significant positive correlation between sleep quality and sleep behaviour (r = 0.623, p < 0.05), suggesting that poorer sleep quality is associated with more maladaptive sleep behaviours. The findings highlight the need for targeted interventions to enhance sleep health and athletic performance, emphasising the importance of comprehensive sleep hygiene practices. Such measures are essential for supporting the well-being and academic success of student-athletes. Furthermore, the study underscores the necessity for future research to explore gender-specific sleep interventions and the broader influence of environmental and behavioral determinants on sleep within athletic populations, to optimize both physical and mental health outcomes.