0957 SLEEP PATTERNS OF STUDENTS IN A SPORT STUDIES PROGRAM

Abstract

Teenagers go through modifications characterized by a delay in sleep-wake pattern. This contrasts with fixed schedules imposed by school demands and therefore may influence daytime functioning. However, specialized school programs, such as Sport Studies, may be more demanding because of additional training hours. The purpose of this study was to investigate sleep patterns of high school Sport Studies students and to verify its association with daytime sleepiness. Forty-eight Sport Studies students (15–17 years old) and 411 standard High School students (15–17 years old) completed questionnaires on sleep habits, sleep disorders and daytime functioning at the start of the school year (October). T-tests comparing both groups during school nights (SN) and weekend nights (WN) were performed on total sleep time (TST), bedtime and wake-up time. Then, t-tests were performed to compare both groups for the differences in sleep midpoint with SN and WN (∆sleep midpoint), sleep disorders (SD) and daytime sleepiness (DS). During SN, Sport Studies students have earlier bedtimes [Sport Studies=10:07PM±45min; High School=10:23PM±53min; t(457)=3.9, p<0.01] and wake-up times [Sport Studies=6:26AM±28min; High School=6:49AM±40min; t(457)=2.0, p<0.05], but no difference in TST [Sport Studies=7:52 ± 62min; High School=7:59 ± 58min; t(448)=0.7, p=0.47]. During WN, similar results were obtained with Sport Studies students having earlier bedtimes [Sport Studies =11:29PM±65min; High School=00:18AM±86min; t(440)=3.8, p<0.01] and wake-up times [Sport Studies=8:56AM±91min; High School=9:54AM±103min; t(455)=3.7, p<0.01] and no differences in TST [Sport Studies=9:03 ± 77min; High School=9:16 ± 91min; t(432)=0.9, p=0.36]. Finally, results showed a significant difference in ∆sleep midpoint [t(438)=3.2, p=0.001), less SD (t(377)=2.6, p=0.01] for the Sport Studies students, but no difference between groups in DS [t(444)=1.8, p=0.069]. This study suggests that Sport Studies programs are associated with different sleep habits in teenagers who seem to be shifting their sleep-wake patterns towards an earlier time compared to “regular” students. This earlier shifting is not associated with DS. However, this study did not investigate these sleep patterns and their impact over the course of an entire school year. Moreover, further studies should look more closely at different Sport Studies programs, since great variability exists among them, with programs like swimming having training sessions as early as 5:00AM. N/A