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. 2024 Jul 5:17:2603-2617.
doi: 10.2147/PRBM.S463289. eCollection 2024.

The Limitations of Using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index to Assess Athletes' Sleep Quality: Evidence from Reliability and Validity in Chinese Professional Athletes

Chenhao Tan  1   2 , Jinhao Wang  1   2 , Jiaojiao Lu  1   2 , Jun Yin  1   2 , Yan An  1   2 , Jinglong Ye  1   2 , Guohuan Cao  1   2 , Jun Qiu  1   2
Affiliations

The Limitations of Using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index to Assess Athletes' Sleep Quality: Evidence from Reliability and Validity in Chinese Professional Athletes

Chenhao Tan et al. Psychol Res Behav Manag. .

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to assess the structural validity of the Chinese version of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) among Chinese professional athletes and examine its test-retest reliability and convergent validity across different timeframes.

Methods: 581 Chinese professional athletes participated. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were conducted on the Chinese version of the PSQI. Test-retest reliability was assessed over 2 weeks, 1 week, and 2-3 days within a 1-month timeframe. Additional reliability analysis over a 2-day interval was conducted within a 1-week timeframe. Convergent validity was assessed using Chinese versions of the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), the Athlete Sleep Screening Questionnaire (ASSQ), and actigraphy. A 1-month tracking was conducted, with weekly completion of the PSQI using a one-week timeframe, supplemented by assessments in the second and fourth week using two-week and one-month timeframes. Relationships between weekly results and those over two weeks and one month examined, along with convergent validity, using sleep diary and actigraphy.

Results: The PSQI exhibited a two-factor structure (sleep quality and sleep efficiency), with good model fit (CFI = 0.960, AGFI = 0.924, TLI = 0.925, RMSEA = 0.085). Test-retest reliability was satisfactory for intervals of one week or more (r = 0.721 ~ 0.753). Using a one-week timeframe, the total score and two dimensions exhibited good reliability (r = 0.769 ~ 0.881), but only the total score and sleep quality showed high correlations with ISI and ASSQ (r = 0.701 ~ 0.839). Throughout the tracking, monthly responses correlated well with the most recent weeks (r = 0.732 ~ 0.866).

Conclusion: The PSQI demonstrates a two-factor structure in Chinese athletes, with sleep quality being predominant. Test-retest reliability within a one-month timeframe is unstable, suggesting a one-week timeframe performs better. Distinguishing between the two dimensions, employing shorter timeframes, and incorporating objective measures are recommended.

Keywords: PSQI; athlete; sleep efficiency; sleep quality; timeframe.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Procedure for measurements over one month.
Figure 2
Figure 2
CFA parameter estimation results for the two-factor model obtained based on EFA with the sleep medication component removed.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Correlations between PSQI and validity variables.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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