The relationship between multiple concussions and multidimensional sleep quality in collegiate-aged, active athletes

• Published in: Sleep health 2024-08, Vol.10 (4), p.441-448
• Main Authors: Van Bortel, Kearnin M., Hamill, Keeley E., Goeckner, Bryna D., Mayer, Andrew R., Brett, Benjamin L., Meier, Timothy B.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Athletes - statistics & numerical data; Athletic Injuries - epidemiology; Brain Concussion - epidemiology; Female; Humans; Male; Mild traumatic brain injury; Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index; Retrospective Studies; Self Report; Sleep; Sleep Quality; Sport; Students - psychology; Students - statistics & numerical data; Universities; Young Adult
• ISSN: 2352-7218; 2352-7226; 2352-7226
• DOI: 10.1016/j.sleh.2024.04.005

Determine the association of cumulative concussion and repetitive head impacts with self-reported sleep quality in healthy collegiate-aged athletes. Collegiate-aged athletes (N = 212; mean age 21.00, 62.7% male) completed semistructured interviews for sport and concussion history and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Number of concussions was retrospectively determined based on the 1993 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine (ACRM) criteria; repetitive head impact was measured based on the cumulative years of contact sport exposure. Associations of number of concussions and repetitive head impact exposure with global PSQI score, overall poor (PSQI >5) vs. good sleep, and binarized subscale scores were tested. Secondary analyses were conducted using alternative concussion criteria and metrics of repetitive head impact. The number of prior concussions was associated with higher PSQI global scores (B(SE)= 0.50(0.13), p