Sport Mont | 2026
Authors: Paes P.P.; Júnior F.C.; dos Santos W.R.; Feitosa R.C.; Zeferino P.H.S.; Lima B.D.M.; de Oliveira B.S.C.; da Costa M.S.F.
DOI: 10.26773/smj.260202
Journal: Sport Mont
Year: 2026
Publisher: Montenegrin Sports Academy
Document Type: Article
Open Access: All Open Access; Gold Open Access
Cited by: 0
Sleep is an essential component of health and is subject to deprivation in university and sports contexts. Its relationship with physical activity can be beneficial or harmful, depending on intensity and volume. This study investigated the influence of sports practice on the sleep patterns of university students, comparing athletes and non-athletes. Sixty UFPE students took part, 30 athletes (15 men and 15 women) and 30 non-athletes (15 men and 15 women), who answered the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS). Statistical analyses were carried out using parametric and non-parametric tests (p<0.05). Athletes had longer total sleep time (6.88±1.32 h vs. 6.03±1.07 h; p=0.01; ES=0.70) and better overall sleep quality (6.87±3.05 vs. 8.40±3.06; p=0.04; ES=0.78) compared to non-athletes. Analysis by gender indicated that male athletes had longer sleep times (6.90±1.34 h vs. 6.00±1.13 h; p=0.05; ES=0.72), better subjective (0.46±0.69 vs. 1.07±0.70; p=0.02; ES=0.89) and global sleep quality (5.87±3.50 vs. 8.13±3.04; p=0.04; ES=0.69) than male non-athletes, while among women there was a trend towards better patterns in the athlete group, with no significant differences. No differences were found in daytime sleepiness between the groups. The study concludes that regular sports practice is associated with healthier sleep patterns, especially among men, reinforcing the importance of institutional actions that encourage sport in the university environment as a health promotion strategy. © 2026, Montenegrin Sports Academy. All rights reserved.
physical activity; sleep quality; sport; university students