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




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

PublisherNATURE PORTFOLIO

BERLIN

2025

Scientific Reports

SCIENTIFIC REPORTS

SCI REP-UK

6822

15

1

8

2045-2322

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-80178-8

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

https://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/491496570

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



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.


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.


Last updated on 2025-28-05 at 13:38