Field assessment of melatonin timing reveals circadian misalignment beyond chronotype in elite female football players

Apr 1, 2026Npj biological timing and sleep

Melatonin timing shows internal clock misalignment beyond sleep preference in elite female soccer players

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Abstract

Elevated melatonin one hour after waking is associated with lower subjective well-being.

  • A longer phase angle between melatonin onset and sleep onset is associated with longer total sleep duration.
  • Being an evening chronotype is independently associated with shorter total sleep duration.
  • Sharing a room with a dissimilar chronotype is also associated with shorter total sleep duration.
  • These findings indicate that real-life circadian timing influences both sleep and well-being in elite athletes.

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Key numbers

11 of 19
Percentage of Athletes Experiencing Misalignment
Athletes waking during biological night based on melatonin levels.
7.37 h
Total Sleep Time in Mixed Chronotype Rooms
Average sleep time for athletes sharing rooms with mixed chronotypes.
5.93 h
Total Sleep Time in Same Chronotype Rooms
Average sleep time for athletes sharing rooms with the same chronotype.

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