Date of Award

5-1-2023

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Honors Thesis

Department

General Science

First Advisor

Mikaela Drake

Second Advisor

Oscar Beltran

Abstract

Introduction: There is ample research available regarding the bidirectional relationship between sleep and mental health, but not specifically within the collegiate student athlete population. The purpose of this study was to describe the sleep hygiene and perceived mental health within the Butler University student athlete population through the use of previously validated survey questionnaires. The study aimed to contribute to this growing field of research while also providing possible areas for improvement within this specific population. Methods: 92 total participants completed a 14-question survey which included the 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12), the 18-item Athlete Sleep Behavior Questionnaire (ASBQ), and the 8-item Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS). Results: Within the data there were significant correlations found between the ASBQ (sleep hygiene), ESS (daytime sleepiness), and GHQ-12 (mental health) scores for the Butler University student athlete population. Also, there were significant discrepancies between the GHQ-12 scores, ESS scores, and ASBQ global scores between the male and female student athlete populations. Conclusion: There are significant relationships between sleep hygiene, daytime sleepiness, and mental health as seen by these data, with greater emphasis being seen within the female student athletes. In correspondence to the significant data reported, there are many key areas that can be focused on in order to improve the overall health of the Butler University student population and in order to further explore this area of study.

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