Prevalence of Sleep Disorder and Disturbances in a DIII Population: Athletes v. Non-Athletes
Date of Award
Spring 4-15-2026
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Athletic Training
Abstract
Background: Sleep is a critical factor in an athlete's health and performance, with extensive research currently focused primarily on DI, professional, and Olympic-level competitors. There is a critical lack of information regarding the sleep habits, disorders, and disturbances among NCAA Division III collegiate athletes, who typically have fewer institutional support systems than their higher-tier counterparts. The purpose of this study was to determine if DIII athletes experience more sleep disorders than DIII non-athletes at the same institution by using a sleep survey.
Methodology: A total of 16 DIII collegiate student-athletes and 59 non-athlete students voluntarily completed an anonymous online survey. This included demographic information and three previously validated measures of sleep health: the Sleep Habits Index (SHI), the Sleep Disorders and Disturbances Index (SD/DI), and a modified Sleep Disorders Questionnaire (mSDQ). Each measure was scored independently, with higher scores indicating either healthier sleep habits (SHI) or a greater burden of disturbance (SD/DI, mSDQ). A Mann-Whitney U statistical analysis was used to compare scores between the athlete group and the non-athlete group.
Results: Varsity athletes reported significantly fewer sleep disorders and disturbances on the SD/DI compared with non-athletes (median = 18.18 vs 36.36; P = .003, r = -0.34). However, no statistically significant differences were observed between the two groups regarding general sleep habits on the SHI (median = 66.67 vs 66.67; P = .94) or modified Sleep Disorders Questionnaire scores (P = .13).
Conclusion: DIII varsity athletes reported significantly fewer sleep disturbances than their non-athlete peers. These findings suggest that the structured routines, regular physical exertion, and built-in social support of DIII athletics, which may be lacking for non-athletes, may serve as a protective factor for sleep health. It also demonstrates that research from higher competition levels cannot be generalized to the Division III population. This highlights the need for tailored clinical monitoring and further longitudinal research across varying levels of collegiate sports.
Streaming Media
Recommended Citation
Henderson, Elise and Bowman, Tom, "Prevalence of Sleep Disorder and Disturbances in a DIII Population: Athletes v. Non-Athletes" (2026). Graduate Dissertations and Theses. 63.
https://digitalshowcase.lynchburg.edu/etd/63
Poster for Digital Presentation