Self-Reported Perceptions of Sleep Quality and Resilience Among Dance Students

This study examined relationships between self-perceived sleep quality and resilience among 116 dance students (Mean age=21.6 years; SD=4.348). who self-reported sleep quality with the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and personal resilience with the Resilience Scale (RS). Most participants (59.5%) reported poor sleep quality on the PSQI, with 62.9% of the women and 42.1% of the men (p=.092) scoring higher than five points on this instrument. On the RS, a large majority of the participants (75%) obtained scores less than 147, indicating low resilience, with no significant gender differences observed. Those reporting poor sleep quality (PSQI scores>5) obtained lower resilience scores (RS<147) than those reporting good sleep quality (PSQI scores5; p=.025), and participants with poorer sleep quality were at higher risk of low resilience (Odds Ratio=3.273) relative to those with good sleep quality (p=.006). Those with shorter duration sleep (claiming they slept <7 hours/night) were also at higher risk for low resilience (Odds Ratio=3.266), relative to those with longer duration sleep (>7 hours/night). These findings can help students and dance professionals improve their performance and face pressures inherent in dance practice. Follow-up research should verify these findings in varied populations with objective sleep measures and observational data from multiple respondents.