High exercise levels are related to favorable sleep patterns and psychological functioning in adolescents: A comparison of athletes and controls

Abstract Purpose: To investigate whether chronic vigorous exercising is related to improved sleep and psychological functioning, and whether this association varies with gender. Both lay and scientific opinions hold that physical activity is an efficient remedy and preventative measure for poor sleep. However, empirical evidence on adolescents is very limited. Adolescence is characterized by important changes in sleep behavior. Even though adolescents still require 9 to 10 hours of sleep per night There is a bi-directional relationship between acute [8] and chronic To cope with poor sleep, clinical experience indicates a growing reliance on substances, either to induce sleep (alcohol, cannabis) or to reduce daytime sleepiness (caffeine)