Izvorni znanstveni članak
https://doi.org/10.69589/hsv.41.1.8
Sleep disturbances and perceived sleep quality in croatian football players: An exploratory pilot cross-sectional study
Iva Lončarić Kelečić
; Libertas International University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Zagreb, Croatia
Elvir Gosić
; University of Zagreb Faculty of Kinesiology, Zagreb, Croatia
Snježana Schuster
; University of Zagreb Faculty of Kinesiology, Zagreb, Croatia
Sažetak
Sleep quality (SQ) is essential for recovery in athletes, yet the patterns and determinants of specific sleep disturbances (SDs) remain poorly characterised in the football context. This exploratory pilot study aimed to characterise SD symptoms and overall SQ in Croatian male and female football players, and to identify predictors of good SQ. A cross-sectional online survey conducted between January and March 2025 collected demographic data, anthropometric measures (BMI), indicators of training and leisure activity, daily rest duration (excluding sleep), and selected items from the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). An SD score was calculated as the sum of nine PSQI-derived disturbance items, while overall SQ was analysed separately. Group differences and associations were examined using nonparametric tests. Internal consistency was assessed using McDonald’s omega and Cronbach’s alpha, and predictors of good SQ were identified using binomial logistic regression. Of 113 respondents, 94 football players (33 males, 61 females; age 23.1±5.6 years; BMI 22.46±2.22 kg/m²) were analysed. The SD score showed acceptable internal consistency (ω=0.722; α=0.690) and was significantly associated with overall SQ (ρ=0.491, p<0.001). Higher SD score was independently associated with lower odds of good SQ (OR=0.516, 95% CI 0.401–0.663, p<0.001), whereas age (OR=1.345, 95% CI 1.110–1.630, p=0.003) and male sex (OR=15.059, 95% CI 2.118–107.071, p=0.007) were associated with higher odds of good SQ. While these early findings point to a meaningful association between SDs and SQ in football players, the pilot nature of the research and reliance on self‑reported cross‑sectional data warrant validation in larger, confirmatory studies.
Ključne riječi
sleep quality, sleep disturbances, football, athletes, logistic regression
Hrčak ID:
348762
URI
Datum izdavanja:
30.6.2026.
Posjeta: 0 *