Al Azim1, Jakir Hossain1, Borko Katanic2, Robert Çitozi3, K. H. Hanif1, Leandro Oliveira4, Karuppasamy Govindasamy5, Vlad Adrian Geantă6
1Department of Physical Education and Sports Science, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi-6205 Bangladesh
2Montenergin Sports Academy, 81000 Podgorica, Montenegro
3Sports University of Tirana, Faculty of Physical Activity and Recreation, Rruga Muhamet Gjollesha 1001, Tiranë 1001, Albania
4CBIOS (Research Center for Bioscience and Health Technologies)Universidade Lusofona, Camp Grande376,1747-024 Lisboa, Portugal
5Department of Sports, Recreation and Wellness, Symbiosis International (Deemed University), Hyderabad Campus, Modallaguda (V), Nandigama (M), Rangareddy, Telangana 509217, India
6Aurel Vlaicu University of Arad, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, Elena Dragoi Street nr. 2-3, Arad-310330, Romania
Influence of sleep quality and patterns on different sports events of collegiate athletes in Bangladesh: Insights from the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index
Monten. J. Sports Sci. Med. 2026, 15(1), Ahead of Print | DOI: 10.26773/mjssm.260308
Abstract
Poor sleep quality and insufficient sleep can adversely affect cognitive and physical health, potentially impairing athletic performance and overall well-being. This study investigates sleep quality, duration and daytime sleepi ness among collegiate athletes from Bangladesh. A cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study was conducted across 18 universities in Bangladesh, involving 258 athletes from 9 different sports. Participants provided data on demographics, diet, sports activity, academic performance and self-reported health. Sleep quality was assessed using the validated Modified Bangla Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), a 19-item tool measuring seven sleep components with a total score range of 0 to 21, where scores above 5 indicate poor sleep quality. The athletes had an average PSQI score of 5.52±2.75 reflecting a high prevalence of poor sleep quality, particularly among cricket, football players and male athletics athletes. The average duration of nocturnal sleep on campus was 6.66 ± 1.04 hours. A significant positive association was found between PSQI scores (β = 0.140, 95% CI: 0.036 to 0.395, p = 0.019) and the duration of time it takes to fall asleep after dinner (β = 0.140, 95% CI: 0.080 to 0.872, p = 0.019) with BMI after adjustment for age and sex using linear regression analysis. Gender was significantly associated with napping patterns with weekly nap frequency (p<0.0001) and nap duration (p<0.05). This study emphasizes the prevalence of poor sleep quality among collegiate athletes in Bangladesh, its association with greater BMI and the importance of specific strategies to enhance sleep, sport performance and overall well-being.
Keywords
Sleep patterns, PSQI assessment, Sleep restriction, Sports, Student-athlete
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