Sleep and Sport: Chapter 9 - Sleep and mental health in athletes

Sleep and mental health share an intricate relationship, such that they may worsen or improve the other. Mental health and sleep disorder symptoms are highly prevalent in athlete populations, and athletes experience unique factors (e.g., competition pressures, training, and travel demands) that may exacerbate sleep and mental health difficulties. Despite this, little empirical attention has been given to the relationship between sleep and mental health in athletes. This chapter intends to provide an overview of the relationships found between specific sleep facets and mental health domains in athletes across age, sport, and professional levels. This chapter also discusses the limitations found within the literature and concludes with a discussion on the clinical implications and potential strategies for the assessment and management of athletes' sleep and mental health.