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Purpose <p>The current study investigated sleep characteristics and determinants of sleep quality in elite male youth ice hockey players from a&#xa0;Swiss major league club, with a&#xa0;focus on circadian chronotype, medical sleep disorders, competition-related sleep disturbances, and psychological symptoms.</p> Methods <p>A&#xa0;cross-sectional online questionnaire was administered to U15, U17, and U20 elite players of a&#xa0;Swiss ice hockey club (<i>N</i> = 74). The survey assessed sleep duration, sleep latency, bedtime regularity, chronotype, symptoms suggestive of sleep disorders, evening behaviors, and pre-competition sleep disturbances as well as mental health using the Patient Health Questionnaire‑2 (PHQ-2) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder‑2 (GAD-2) screening tools. Descriptive statistics and Spearman rank correlations were applied.</p> Results <p>Mean self-reported sleep duration was 8.1 h per night. In total, 20% of the sample reported symptoms indicative of insomnia, 11% screened positive for sleep apnea-related symptoms, and 15% reported symptoms consistent with restless legs syndrome. Frequent nightmares were reported by 10% of participants, while an additional 11% reported other parasomnia-related behaviors. Symptoms suggestive of sleep disorders and psychological distress were associated with impaired sleep quality, whereas behavioral sleep-related factors such as smartphone use before bedtime, caffeine consumption after 6&#xa0;p.m., and late eating showed only small or inconsistent associations.</p> Conclusion <p>Despite generally adequate sleep duration, a&#xa0;substantial proportion of elite youth ice hockey players experience impaired sleep quality. These difficulties were associated with circadian misalignment, competition-related arousal, mental health symptoms, and potential undiagnosed sleep disorders rather than with modifiable bedtime behaviors alone.</p>

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Sleep health in young elite ice hockey players

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年5月5日

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  • Nicolas Morath,
  • Gianna Schneeberger,
  • Marion Zehnder,
  • Nicole Lutz,
  • Albrecht Vorster

摘要

Purpose

The current study investigated sleep characteristics and determinants of sleep quality in elite male youth ice hockey players from a Swiss major league club, with a focus on circadian chronotype, medical sleep disorders, competition-related sleep disturbances, and psychological symptoms.

Methods

A cross-sectional online questionnaire was administered to U15, U17, and U20 elite players of a Swiss ice hockey club (N = 74). The survey assessed sleep duration, sleep latency, bedtime regularity, chronotype, symptoms suggestive of sleep disorders, evening behaviors, and pre-competition sleep disturbances as well as mental health using the Patient Health Questionnaire‑2 (PHQ-2) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder‑2 (GAD-2) screening tools. Descriptive statistics and Spearman rank correlations were applied.

Results

Mean self-reported sleep duration was 8.1 h per night. In total, 20% of the sample reported symptoms indicative of insomnia, 11% screened positive for sleep apnea-related symptoms, and 15% reported symptoms consistent with restless legs syndrome. Frequent nightmares were reported by 10% of participants, while an additional 11% reported other parasomnia-related behaviors. Symptoms suggestive of sleep disorders and psychological distress were associated with impaired sleep quality, whereas behavioral sleep-related factors such as smartphone use before bedtime, caffeine consumption after 6 p.m., and late eating showed only small or inconsistent associations.

Conclusion

Despite generally adequate sleep duration, a substantial proportion of elite youth ice hockey players experience impaired sleep quality. These difficulties were associated with circadian misalignment, competition-related arousal, mental health symptoms, and potential undiagnosed sleep disorders rather than with modifiable bedtime behaviors alone.