Date of Award
Winter 2-15-2026
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Kinesiology (EdD)
Department
Kinesiology
Abstract
This study examined the relationship between sleep behaviors and strength performance in adolescent students enrolled in a high school strength and conditioning course. Participants included 112 students, ages 15–19, who completed daily self-reported sleep logs over an eight-week period assessing sleep duration, sleep quality, and pre-sleep technology use. Strength performance was measured through repeated assessments of the bench press, squat, and power clean. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlations, and linear regression. Results indicated that sleep duration and sleep quality did not significantly predict overall strength gains across the training period. However, strong relationships were observed among sleep-related behaviors, particularly between sleep quality, screen time, and total pre-sleep distraction. Despite the lack of significant predictive effects on strength outcomes, findings revealed widespread sleep deprivation and substantial pre-sleep screen use among participants. These results suggest that while adolescents can make meaningful strength gains in structured school-based programs despite inconsistent sleep habits, sleep behaviors remain important for recovery, readiness, and overall well-being. The findings support the inclusion of sleep education within secondary strength and conditioning curricula.