1209 STUDENT ATHLETES’ ACCESS TO HEALTHY SLEEP INFORMATION ON CAMPUS: HOW DOES IT RELATE TO OTHER TYPES OF HEALTH INFORMATION AND TO SLEEP DIFFICULTIES?

Abstract

Sleep difficulties are common among student-athletes. The availability of healthy sleep information on campuses is unknown, as is the level of interest for more information about sleep. Further, it is possible that personal sleep difficulties motivate interest in sleep. Data were collected as part of the 2011–2014 National College Health Assessment, conducted by the American College Health Association (N=8,618 student athletes). Participants were asked if they received information from on-campus sources about: sleep, alcohol/drugs, cold/flu, depression/anxiety, eating disorders, grief/loss, helping others, injury prevention, nutrition, exercise, birth control, excessive computer/internet use, relationships, sexual assault, sexually-transmitted disease/infection, stress, suicide, tobacco, and violence. They were also asked if they were interested in receiving more information on these topics. Prevalence of “sleep difficulties” that were “traumatic or difficult to handle” over the past 12 months was recorded. Only 32.6% of respondents reported getting information about sleep. This was less frequent than all other domains except excessive computer/internet use (all p<0.0001). Yet, 52.0% of respondents reported that they were interested in more information about sleep. This was higher (p<0.0001) than the level of interest expressed for alcohol/drugs, cold/flu, depression/anxiety, eating disorders, grief/loss, injury prevention, exercise, pregnancy, computer/internet use, relationships, sexual assault, sexually-transmitted disease/infection, suicide, tobacco, and violence. Access to information about sleep was not associated with difficulty sleeping. However, those who were interested in more information about sleep were more likely to have sleep difficulties (OR=2.63,95%CI[2.34,2.95], p<0.0001). Those that expressed interest but did not have access to information had a greater likelihood of sleep difficulties (OR=3.20,95%CI[2.76,3.70], p<0.0001) compared to those who had access to information (OR=1.76,95%CI[1.44,2.15],p<0.0001). Information about healthy sleep is accessible to <1/3 of student-athletes, less than nearly all other health concerns. However, the majority are interested in receiving more information about sleep (more than most other domains). Those who are interested are more likely to experience poor sleep themselves, especially if they also lack access to information. These findings highlight the need for more sleep health programs on campus. K23HL110216 and NCAA Innovation Grant.