Sleep and Circadian Interventions to Improve Athletes' Mental Health, Mood and Well-Being: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Abstract
Background: Sleep and circadian interventions (e.g. interventions aimed at promoting circadian alignment and supporting stable well-entrained sleep-wake patterns) are predominantly implemented in athletes to improve performance, recovery and adaptation to travel. Emerging evidence from the broader population demonstrates that improving sleep and circadian health can also improve mental health, mood and well-being.
Objectives: To evaluate the current evidence on the effectiveness of sleep and circadian interventions for improving mental health, mood and well-being in athlete populations.
Methods: Seven databases (CENTRAL, CINAHL, Embase, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Scopus, SPORTDiscus) were searched from inception to 23 September, 2024 in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Eligible studies involved athletes (participating in sport at any level) and evaluated sleep or circadian interventions aimed at improving sleep and/or circadian health, with mental health, mood or well-being outcomes. Sleep interventions directly manipulated sleep through behavioural, environmental or educational approaches. Studies without a comparator/baseline, using indirect methods (e.g. brainwave entrainment) to improve sleep or solely sleep restriction, were excluded. Two reviewers independently screened studies, extracted data, and assessed methodological quality and risk of bias using the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool and Joanna Briggs…
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