Is it wiser to train in the afternoon or the early evening to sleep better? The role of chronotype in young adolescent athletes

High-intensity exercise in the evening is associated with lower sleep efficiency and higher sleep onset latency compared to afternoon exercise.

• Evening high-intensity exercise leads to a decrease in sleep efficiency by 1.50%.
• Participants experience an increase in sleep onset latency of 4.60 minutes after evening exercise.
• Chronotype influences the psychological state at bedtime and the quality of sleep in young athletes.
• Athletes with a late chronotype show stable sleep regardless of exercise timing.
• Early chronotype athletes report greater mood disturbances and significant sleep disruptions following evening workouts.
• Next-day wellness and feelings of pre-fatigue are affected by both exercise timing and chronotype.

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