Vol. 6, Issue 2, Part B (2024)

This study investigates the relationship between sleep quality, mood state, and performance among 50 state-level cricketers (25 male and 25 female) from Kerala, India, aged 18 to 25. Sleep quality was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), while mood state was evaluated with the Brunel Mood Scale (BRUMS). Performance was rated subjectively during state-level cricket competitions. Descriptive statistics, the Shapiro-Wilk normality test, Pearson product-moment correlation, and the Mann-Whitney U test were employed to analyse the data, with significance set at p < 0.05. Results indicated no significant differences in sleep quality and mood states between male and female cricketers, suggesting that gender does not significantly influence these psychological factors. However, correlation analyses revealed that sleep quality positively correlates with performance, while negative mood states (anger, depression, tension, fatigue, confusion, and mood state) are negatively correlated with performance. These findings align with previous research showing that psychological factors critically impact athletic performance, regardless of gender. The study underscores the importance of managing psychological aspects to optimize cricket performance and suggests the need for gender-neutral interventions to address these factors effectively.