Ramadan Observance Is Associated with Impaired Kung-Fu-Specific Decision-Making Skills

Anis Saddoud, Aïmen Khacharem, Cyrine H’Mida, Khaled Trabelsi, Omar Boukhris, Achraf Ammar, Cain C. T. Clark, Jordan M. Glenn, Hamdi Chtourou, Mohamed Jarraya, Thomas Rosemann and Beat Knechtle
Additional contact information
Anis Saddoud: High Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Sfax, University of Sfax, Sfax 3000, Tunisia
Aïmen Khacharem: UFR SESS-STAPS, Paris-East Créteil University, LIRTES (EA 7313), 94000 Créteil, France
Cyrine H’Mida: High Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Sfax, University of Sfax, Sfax 3000, Tunisia
Khaled Trabelsi: High Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Sfax, University of Sfax, Sfax 3000, Tunisia
Omar Boukhris: High Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Sfax, University of Sfax, Sfax 3000, Tunisia
Achraf Ammar: Institute of Sport Science, Otto-von-Guericke University, 39106 Magdeburg, Germany
Cain C. T. Clark: Centre for Intelligent Healthcare, Coventry University, Coventry CV1 5FB, UK
Jordan M. Glenn: Department of Health, Exercise Science Research Center, Human Performance and Recreation, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA
Hamdi Chtourou: High Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Sfax, University of Sfax, Sfax 3000, Tunisia
Mohamed Jarraya: High Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Sfax, University of Sfax, Sfax 3000, Tunisia
Thomas Rosemann: Institute of Primary Care, University of Zurich, 8006 Zurich, Switzerland
Beat Knechtle: Institute of Primary Care, University of Zurich, 8006 Zurich, Switzerland

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 14, 1-10

Abstract: The aim of the present study is to evaluate the effect of Ramadan observance (RAM) on decision-making in Kung-Fu athletes. Fourteen male Kung-Fu athletes (mean age = 19 ± 3 years) completed two test sessions: before Ramadan (BR) and at the end of Ramadan (ER). In the afternoon of each session (between 16:00 h and 18:00 h), participants completed: Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), Profile of Mood States (POMS), and Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Subjects also reported subjective fatigue, alertness, and concentration. Additionally, all participants performed video-based decision-making tasks (i.e., reaction time and decision-making). Results indicated that reaction time decreased by 30% at ER vs. BR ( p < 0.01). However, decision-making decreased by 9.5% at ER vs. BR ( p < 0.05). PSQI results indicated sleep quality score, sleep duration, and sleep efficiency were negatively affected at ER compared to BR ( p < 0.05). ESS was higher at ER compared to BR ( p < 0.05). In addition, fatigue scores, estimated by the POMS and current subjective feelings (i.e., fatigue, concentration, and alertness), were also negatively affected at ER compared to BR ( p < 0.05). In conclusion, Ramadan observance was associated with an adverse effect on sleep and decision making, as well as feelings of fatigue, alertness, and concentration.

Keywords: intermittent fasting; decision making; sleep; sleepiness; fatigue; athletes (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/14/7340/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/14/7340/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:14:p:7340-:d:591224

Access Statistics for this article

IJERPH is currently edited by Ms. Jenna Liu

More articles in IJERPH from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().