RT info:eu-repo/semantics/article
T1 Poor sleep quality and quantity in water polo players and coaches: a worldwide survey
A1 Barrenetxea Garcia, Josu
A1 Perazzetti, Andrea
A1 Nuell, Sergi
A1 Sáez de Villarreal, Eduardo
A1 Mielgo Ayuso, Juan
A1 Calleja González, Julio
K1 Slow-wave sleep
K1 Circadian Rhythms and Sleep
K1 Sleep Deprivation
K1 Mental Health
K1 Sleep Disorders
K1 Sport Psychology
K1 Sleep Quality and Athletic Performance
K1 Sueño
K1 Sleep
AB Sleep is one of the most important aspects of recovery; however, insufficient sleep has been described in elite athletes. The objective of the present study was to investigate sleep quality and quantity in water polo (WP) players and coaches worldwide. In all, 231 WP players (male: n = 112; female: n = 119) and 76 coaches (male: n = 70; female: n = 6) representing all continents around the world and all levels of competition, completed a freely accessible online survey. This was divided into two sections: sociodemographic data (8 questions), and sleep quality and disorders (10 questions). Based on the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) results, 74% of the players and 63.2% of the coaches suffer from a clinically significant sleep disorder. Regarding players, 44.6% deserve medical attention, 28.6% deserve medical attention and medical treatment, and 0.9% have serious sleep problems. In coaches, 36.8% deserve medical attention, 25% deserve medical attention and medical treatment, and 1.3% have serious sleep problems. Players had higher sleep latency (p < 0.01), daytime dysfunction (p < 0.001), and shorter sleep duration (p < 0.01) than coaches; female players had higher sleep latency and daytime dysfunction (p < 0.05) than male players; and amateur male players had shorter sleep duration (p < 0.01) than elite players. These findings reveal deficiencies in sleep quality and quantity in WP worldwide; therefore, WP training staff should seek strategies to improve their sleep hygiene.
PB Springer Nature
SN 2509-3142
YR 2026
FD 2026-03
LK https://hdl.handle.net/10259/12144
UL https://hdl.handle.net/10259/12144
LA eng
DS Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad de Burgos
RD 28-sep-2026