Are Specific Performance Factors Influenced by Stress-Related Sleep Disturbances in Basketball Players? A PRISMA-Guided Descriptive and Qualitative Systematic Review

Ochoa-Lácar, J., Calleja-González, J. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2575-7168, Vaquera, Alejandro and Flórez-Gil, E. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1347-7196 (2026) Are Specific Performance Factors Influenced by Stress-Related Sleep Disturbances in Basketball Players? A PRISMA-Guided Descriptive and Qualitative Systematic Review. Applied Sciences, 16 (4). pp. 1-19. ISSN 2076-3417

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Abstract

Background: Basketball is an intermittent sport characterized by repeated high-intensity efforts interspersed with periods of active recovery. The physical and cognitive demands of the sport expose its players to multiple sources of stress, which may be associated with alterations in sleep and, in turn, with changes in athletic performance. The aim of this systematic review was to synthesize available evidence on whether stress-related sleep disturbances are associated with changes in specific performance factors in basketball players. Methods: A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus (January 2010–July 2025). Studies assessing stress, sleep, and at least one performance-related outcome in basketball players were included. Methodological quality and risk of bias were assessed using the Oxford Levels of Evidence and design-specific critical appraisal tools for observational and non-randomized studies. Due to methodological heterogeneity, no meta-analysis was performed, and a qualitative descriptive synthesis was performed. The review protocol was registered in PROSPERO (registration number: 1185938). Of the 202 records identified, 23 remained after screening, and 14 met the inclusion criteria and were included in the qualitative synthesis, requiring the assessment of stress, sleep, and performance outcomes in basketball players. Results: Most included studies reported associative relationships between competition or training-related stress and reduced sleep quality or duration, as well as alterations in selected basketball performance outcomes. Across studies, patterns emerged linking elevated competitive and personal stress, insufficient sleep and recovery outcomes, and performance-related changes, despite substantial variability in study design and measurement approaches. Conclusions: Overall, the evidence suggests that basketball-specific performance factors may be sensitive to stress-related sleep disturbances. These associative patterns underscore the importance of considering psychological well-being, recovery strategies, and sleep management in applied basketball contexts. Rather than supporting prescriptive intervention models, the findings highlight the value of integrated monitoring approaches that combine stress, sleep, and performance assessment to support player readiness and performance outcomes.

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