A Comparison of Physical Activity Behaviors and Sleep in Female NCAA Division-I Athletes versus Controls

Abstract

Physical activity behaviors and sleep patterns influence health in the general population but have not been evaluated in collegiate student athletes. For these individuals the demands of academics and athletics alter these parameters but have not been fully characterized or compared to students who are not collegiate athletes. PURPOSE: This study compared physical activity (PA) behaviors and sleep patterns of female NCAA D I student-athletes (Athletes) to recreationally active female students (Controls). METHODS: Across three consecutive semesters, subjects were recruited for one to three weeks of monitoring. Sleep was monitored with Actiwatches. PA was monitored using ActivPals. Forty-five females were recruited from the University of Colorado, Boulder. Athletes were recruited from the Golf (n=6) and Tennis teams (n=8). Controls were recruited from the general student body (n=31). Subjects were instructed to wear devices at all times except during competitions. Travel days and days with less than 90% waking wear time were removed from analysis. Time spent in Sedentary (SED), Low Intensity (LIT) and Moderate-Vigorous Physical Activity (MVPA) are presented as percent of waking day. RESULTS: Mean days recorded per individual was: Controls 15.1; golf 10.2; and tennis 15. Compared to Controls, Athletes had higher daily step counts (12,040 ± 6498 vs 8,992 ± 5240, p<.01), less SED (63.5±15.0 vs 71.4±13.3, p<.05), higher LIT (26.4 ± 12.9 vs 21±10.8, p<.05)) and higher MVPA (9.7 ± 3 vs 7.6 ± 3.3, p<.01). For both groups, weekends had higher LIT (+3.0%, p<.01), decreased MVPA (-.75%, p<.05), and a trend toward decreased SED (-2.3%, p=.0563) compared to weekdays. There were no differences in PA between Golf and Tennis. Sleep was not significantly different in Athletes versus Controls, including duration of sleep (07:04 ± 00:49 vs 7:32 ± 00:42, p=.6) and sleep midpoint. Yet, midpoint was significantly later on weekends vs. weekdays in both groups (04:35 ± 01:01 vs 04:03 ± 00:55, p<.01) CONCLUSION: Female Athletes had higher physical activity demands than Controls. Yet both groups, on average, slept only slightly more than the American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommended 7-hours. This may negatively impact overall health. Research is needed on how these sleep and activity behaviors influence academic and athletic outcomes.