Patricia Frytz

Schlaf ist eine oft unterschätzte Ressource im Leistungssport, der meist nicht genug Aufmerksamkeit geschenkt wird. Während Trainingspläne periodisiert und Belastungen individuell gesteuert werden, bleibt die Frage, wie gut der Athlet oder die Athletin geschlafen hat, oft unbeantwortet. Dabei ist Schlaf eine entscheidende Grundlage psychischer Stabilität, körperlicher Leistungsfähigkeit und nachhaltiger Regeneration – für Profis ebenso wie für ambitionierte Freizeitathletinnen und -athleten.

Using smartphones, particularly social media, before bedtime has emerged as a concern for sleep. While previous research has predominantly focused on total screen time or light exposure, less is known about content‐specific effects. Furthermore, most studies rely on self‐reported data. This study investigated the impact of objectively assessed (Murmuras app) pre‐bedtime social media use (in the 2 h before lights off) on subjective (daily sleep logs) and objective (actigraphy) sleep measures. Twenty‐three healthy male participants (14–25 years) completed 14 consecutive days of measurements, including nine home nights and four standardised laboratory nights with no social media use. Main analyses were restricted to home nights with non‐zero social media use. Results showed that longer pre‐bedtime social media use was associated with reduced sleep efficiency, a trend toward shorter sleep duration, and more awakenings and greater sleep fragmentation only on weekends. For subjective sleep, longer social media use was associated with a stronger feeling of having slept deeply, independent of day type; participants also generally perceived weekend nights as better sleep nights than weekdays, irrespective of social media use. In contrast to the weekend‐specific objective impairments, no day‐type‐specific interaction emerged for any subjective parameter, suggesting that participants did not subjectively detect the actigraphy‐measured sleep disruptions. This objective–subjective dissociation underscores the need for both objective and subjective measures in sleep research. Future research should examine specific engagement types (e.g., active vs. passive), in‐bed use, and underlying mechanisms to better understand when and for whom social media use affects sleep.

Basic psychological need theory posits that satisfying basic psychological needs (autonomy, competence, relatedness) is connected to overall well-being and physiological health, including sleep. The reciprocal relationship between basic psychological need satisfaction and sleep quality has been investigated in different studies. However, a domain-specific questionnaire exploring basic psychological need satisfaction with a focus on sleep does not exist. Therefore, in study 1 we constructed the Basic Psychological Need Satisfaction in Sleep Scale (BPNSS-S) through confirmatory factor analysis and item selection. A total of 227 participants completed the first version of the questionnaire. In study 2, 295 participants answered the final version of the 7-item questionnaire including measurements on sleep quality, life satisfaction, vigorous exercise and basi psychological need satisfaction in exercise. The final BPNSS-S yielded good to excellent model fit, and agreement with other scales supports the assumptions of good criterion, construct, and discriminant validity. The newly developed BPNSS-S is a reliable and valid tool for assessing basic psychological need satisfaction in the sleep domain. Application of the scale will help researchers and practitioners better understand and improve sleep quality and well-being through the lens of need satisfaction. This study lays the foundation for further studies in sleep and needs research, with the potential to guide targeted approaches that enhance sleep behavior across various populations.

Objectives : In response to a research request about the subjectivities of female athletes and the examination of athletes from non-Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, and Democratic (WEIRD) populations, this study aims to investigate the experiences of Costa Rican elite athletes concerning their menstrual cycle (MC) during their competitive season. The investigation examined (a) how Costa Rican elite athletes perceived the impact of the MC on their athletic performance in training and competition, (b) the strategies employed by these athletes to cope with the adverse symptoms associated with menstruation during the competitive season, and (c) the phenomenon of menstrual stigma within the sporting context in Costa Rica. Method : Thirteen semistructured interviews were carried out with Costa Rican elite athletes (age: 26.30 ± 4.1 years) from both individual (athletics, triathlon, judo, boxing, and fencing) and team sports (soccer, volleyball, and rugby). The data analysis was conducted using a Reflexive Thematic Analysis approach. Results : Every athlete included in the investigation experienced negative MC symptoms, while 92% ( n = 12) observed a detrimental impact on athletic performance. Participants implemented various individual tactics to cope with the adverse effects on their athletic performance, encompassing self-medication and caring for their hydration, sleep, and nutrition needs. The strategies highlighted the limited support and information about the MC within the sports community due to the stigma surrounding the topic. Conclusions : The overarching findings underscore the necessity of initiating dialogue about the MC within the sports community while addressing menstrual poverty issues to improve athletic performance among athletes and mitigate possible health risks.

Due to the high demands of competitive sports, the sleep architecture of adolescent athletes may be influenced by their regular training. To date, there is no clear evidence on how training characteristics (intensity, time of day, number of sessions) influence sleep quality and quantity. 53 male soccer players (M = 14.36 years, SD = 0.55) of Austrian U15 (n = 45) and U16 elite teams (n = 8) were tested on at least three consecutive days following their habitual training schedules. Participants completed daily sleep protocols (7 a.m., 8 p.m.) and questionnaires assessing sleep quality (PSQI), chronotype (D-MEQ), competition anxiety (WAI-T), and stress/recovery (RESTQ). Electrocardiography (ECG) and actigraphy devices measured sleep. Using sleep protocols and an ECG-based multi-resolution convolutional neural network (MCNN), we found that higher training intensity leads to more wake time, that later training causes longer sleep duration, and that one training session per day was most advantageous for sleep quality. In addition, somatic complaints assessed by the WAI-T negatively affected adolescent athletes’ sleep. Individual training loads and longer recovery times after late training sessions during the day should be considered in training schedules, especially for adolescent athletes. MCNN modeling based on ECG data seems promising for efficient sleep analysis in athletes.

Zusammenfassung. In dieser Studie wurde das Schlaf-Wach-Verhalten jugendlicher Elite-Mannschaftsathleten in Österreich im Zusammenhang mit deren Training untersucht. Dafür wurden 104 Athleten (M=14.52 Jahre, SD=0.40), die jeweils Mitglied eines U15/U16 Teams im Fußball (n=69) oder Eishockey (n =35) waren, über mehrere Wochen (14 – 42 Tage) per Aktigraphie und Schlafprotokoll untersucht. Zusätzlich wurden der Chronotyp (D-MEQ) und die allgemeine Schlafqualität (PSQI) erhoben. Es wurde angenommen, dass die Schlafqualität vor Trainings- und Spieltagen geringer ist als vor Ruhetagen und dass sich eine geringe Schlafqualität negativ auf die Trainingsintensität auswirkt. Es konnte gezeigt werden, dass die Athleten an Ruhetagen eine längere Schlafdauer aufweisen. Es hat sich außerdem bestätigt, dass eine kürzere Schlafdauer und längere Einschlaflatenz einen negativen Einfluss auf die wahrgenommene Trainingsintensität am folgenden Tag haben. Ein stärkerer Einbezug der Schlafqualität bei Leistungsanalysen und in der Gestaltung von Trainingsplänen wird empfohlen.