Sleep and stress in athletes with disabilities around the 2021 Tokyo Paralympic games during the pandemic - UTU Research Portal

A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal

Sleep and stress in athletes with disabilities around the 2021 Tokyo Paralympic games during the pandemic

Authors: Urbański, Piotr Kazimierz; Brewer, Britton W.; Starczewski, Michał; Ng, Kwok; Tasiemski, Tomasz; Tomczak, Maciej

Publisher: NATURE PORTFOLIO

Publishing place: BERLIN

Publication year: 2025

Journal: Scientific Reports

Journal name in source: SCIENTIFIC REPORTS

Journal acronym: SCI REP-UK

Article number: 6822

Volume: 15

Issue: 1

Number of pages: 8

eISSN: 2045-2322

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-80178-8

Web address : https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-024-80178-8

Self-archived copy’s web address: https://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/491496570

Additional information: Correction to this article: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-95572-z ; DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-95572-z

Abstract

This research evaluated the relation and fluctuations in stress and sleep quality in athletes with disabilities (AwD) during the period before and after the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics, amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Assessments were conducted every 3 months over a period of 10 months, encompassing three distinct pandemic phases. Results showed significant variations in perceived stress (F = 9.41, ηp² = 0.09, p < 0.01) and sleep quality (F = 10.55, ηp² = 0.10, p < 0.001), with initial increased stress and poorer sleep, improving at the midpoint. Sleep quality components varied over time (p < 0.05), except for sleep medication use and daytime dysfunction. Results indicated a direct relationship where poor sleep potentially causes increased stress β = 0.24, p < 0.01; β = 0.13, p < 0.05). The study underscores the need for regular stress assessments and development of sleep routines independent of external circumstances.

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s41598-024-80178-8.pdf

Funding information in the publication:
This study was funded by Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange (BPN/GIN/2021/1/00013/U/00001). The funder had no influence on the research and preparation of the manuscript.