Sex Differences In Mental Health Outcomes, Sleep Quality, And Perceived Stress In Ncaa Division III Student Athletes

PURPOSE: Research suggests a higher prevalence of adverse mental health outcomes in female student-athletes vs. male student athletes. Considering the strong links between stress, sleep, and mental health (particularly for women), it is possible that these predisposing factors may have a greater impact on mental health outcomes in female athletes. The purpose of this study was to explore sex differences in mental health outcomes, sleep quality, and perceived stress in NCAA Division III student athletes, and the frequency by which coaches and athletic trainers (ATs) communicated information about stress management, and sleep hygiene with student athletes. METHODS: In collaboration with the North Carolina Wesleyan University (NCWU) Sports Medicine staff, assessments of sleep [Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI); Sleep Hygiene Index (SHI)], mental health [Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D); Spielberger Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-Y2)]; and perceived stress [Perceived Stress Scale (PSS)] were conducted via an online survey. One hundred and fifty-two athletes responded to the survey, and 128 athletes with complete study data were included in the analysis. RESULTS: Female athletes reported significantly worse sleep quality (t = -2.67, p < 0.01), higher levels of perceived stress (t = -2.9, p < 0.0005), higher depressive symptoms (t = -3.78, p < 0.0005), and higher levels of trait anxiety (t = -3.20, p < 0.005), compared to males. In female athletes, lower SHI scores were significantly associated with higher PSS (r = -0.51, p = 0.0002), CES-D (r = -0.51, p < 0.0001) and STAI (r = -0.46, p = 0.001) scores. Twice as many female athletes reported receiving no information about sleep hygiene in the last month from coaches (40% vs. 20%) or AT’s (58% vs. 21%), compared to males CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that there are significant sex differences in mental health outcomes, sleep quality, and perceived stress in student athletes, and also in the frequency of education/counseling regarding sleep hygiene and stress management from coaches and ATs. Considering the frequency of contact between student athletes, coaches, and ATs, more research is needed to explore the role of coaches and ATs in intervention delivery aimed to help promote the psychological well-being of female student athletes.