Sleep Duration and Sleep Quality as Season-Long Predictors of Ratings of Perceived Exertion and Psychological Wellbeing in Female Soccer Athletes

Authors

Maria E. Camargo M.S., University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA), University of Texas Health Science Center San AntonioFollow
Kelly M. Cheever PhD, University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA)Follow

Abstract

Sleep is a critical factor in optimizing athletic performance and well-being. Sleep effects on physiological and psychological well-being have been examined through cross sectional studies, but limited research exists on the longitudinal impact that sleep has on well-being in collegiate athletes. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to explore daily fluctuations in subjective measures of psychological wellness and physiological stress (soreness, rating of perceived exertion (RPE)) across a competitive soccer season, and to examine the extent to which sleep duration and quality modify daily measures of wellness and stress in collegiate female soccer athletes. METHODS: Twenty female collegiate soccer players underwent daily assessments of psychological well-being (mental stress, mental fatigue, anxiety and depression), physical stress (active time, total distance, GPS load, soreness, and RPE), and sleep (duration and quality) across a 120-day competitive season. Generalized linear mixed-effects models with a zero-inflation component were utilized to examine the effects of sleep duration and quality on measures of physiological and psychological stress. RESULTS: Sleep duration was a predictor of RPE and anxiety, and an interaction was observed between sleep duration and the day of the soccer season affecting RPE, anxiety, and soreness (pCONCLUSION: This study is among the first to examine daily fluctuations in psychological and physiological stress across an entire competitive season in collegiate female soccer players. Findings suggest that sleep duration and sleep quality are protective measures of psychological well-being, with increasingly protective effects observed across a competitive soccer season. These findings highlight the importance of sleep in optimizing both athletic performance and wellness throughout competitive seasons.

Recommended Citation

Camargo, Maria E. M.S. and Cheever, Kelly M. PhD (2025) "Sleep Duration and Sleep Quality as Season-Long Predictors of Ratings of Perceived Exertion and Psychological Wellbeing in Female Soccer Athletes," International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings: Vol. 2: Iss. 17, Article 94.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.wku.edu/ijesab/vol2/iss17/94