The schedule exposure completely overlapped with the team status, limiting interpretation of these differences

The gap

Evidence profile

Sourced from the stated challenges and future work and limitations section of the source papers, classified as general, spanning 3 journals.

Supporting evidence — 3 representative gaps

• Cross-sectional associations of maladaptive sleep-hygiene behaviors with athlete engagement among provincial- and municipal-level athletes in Sichuan, China (2026) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi

  The study faced challenges in recruiting participants, as the sample size was limited to athletes accessible during the scheduled survey visits. The study used self-report measures, which may be subject to biases and limitations. The study did not assess actual sleep duration, efficiency, insomnia, or nightly variability, which may be important factors to consider in future research.

  generalstated challengesevidence 5/5
  Keywords: study faced challenges recruiting participants sample size was
• Unpacking the Impact of Travel and Jet Lag on Sleep and Performance of Athletes: A Narrative Review (2026) · Current Sleep Medicine Reports · doi

  In conclusion, this review consolidates the current evidence on the impact of long-haul transmeridian travel on the sleep and performance of athletes. The evidence supports that co-occurring travel fatigue and jet lag impair sleep param- eters, particularly total sleep time, sleep efficiency, and sleep onset latency. Considering travel fatigue in isolation and co-occurring jet lag and travel fatigue, both negatively influence cognitive and physical performance in elite sport. While some studies report neutral or even positive effects under certain conditions, these outcomes are often mitigated by prior experience, tailored interventions, or favorable travel circumstances (e.g., business class seating). Across the included studies, time-zone differences were generally categorised as either crossing < 3 time zones (fewer than 3 time zones) or crossing ≥ 3 time zones (3 or more time zones). Importantly, the complex interplay between circadian disruption, sleep deprivation, neurocognitive function, and physical readiness makes travel and jet lag a significant, multifactorial risk to high-performance outcomes. Variables such as sex, chronotype, direction of travel, individual resil- ience and prior travel experience further shape this risk in ways that are not yet fully understood. Future research with larger sample sizes should clarify these multifactorial risks by: (1) performing longitudinal, real-world studies across full competition seasons with appropriate control groups; Current Sleep Medicine Reports (2026) 12:18 1 3 18 Page 20 of 22 (2) investigating personalised, technology-assisted mitiga- tion strategies; and. (3) combining biomarkers, wearable technology, and psychometric assessments to develop predictive models for travel-related performance disruption. Ultimately, a shift toward proactive, evidence-based travel management strategies, including optimised schedul- ing, structured sleep hygiene, and circadian adaptation pro- tocols, will be essential to safeguard athlete well-being and maximize performance in global competition.

  generalfuture workevidence 5/5
  Keywords: travel sleep time performance zones evidence fatigue current occurring physical outcomes prior experience across crossing
• Game Day Time Lag, Behavioral Patterns, and Perceived Condition in Japanese Professional Baseball Players: A Cross-Sectional Study (2026) · Sports · doi

  The schedule exposure completely overlapped with the team status, limiting interpretation of these differences - Self-reported midsleep does not directly measure circadian phase, sleep quality, or physiological disruption - Thresholds for a practically meaningful GDL and its applicability to other sports, competition calendars, and cultural settings remain to be established

  generallimitations sectionevidence 5/5
  Keywords: schedule exposure completely overlapped team status limiting interpretation

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