title: The Mentrual cycle's effect on sleep in adolescent female athletes.

authors: Anderson, Naia

subjects: menstrual cycle

abstract: Sleep is a crucial aspect of recovery and overall well-being, yet many adolescent female athletes 
experience disruptions influenced by hormonal changes throughout the menstrual cycle. While 
research on elite adult athletes has explored sleep disturbances related to training and competition, 
there is limited understanding of how menstrual cycle fluctuations impact sleep in younger athletes. 
Variations in estrogen and progesterone levels across the follicular and luteal phases are known to 
affect sleep patterns, including sleep quality, duration and onset latency. Increased progesterone in the 
luteal phase, for example, has been linked to poorer sleep efficiency and greater difficulty falling 
asleep. Additionally, menstrual-related symptoms such as cramps, fatigue, and mood changes may 
further interfere with rest and recovery. Given the importance of sleep for athletic performance and 
well-being, the first chapter of this thesis seeks to examine the current knowledge on how different 
phases of the menstrual cycle influence sleep in adolescent female athletes. 
The second chapter of this thesis presents an original study that examined how different phases of the 
menstrual cycle affect sleep in adolescent female athletes. Over the course of three menstrual cycles, 
ten participants (14.5 ± 1.9) who were in their early-to-mid and mid-to-late pubertal stages, tracked 
their sleep using both subjective and objective methods. They recorded sleep duration and perceived 
sleep quality in a sleep diary. Simultaneously, wrist-worn actigraphy devices (Fitbit) measured 
objective sleep metrics, including sleep duration, sleep quality, sleep onset latency, wake episodes, 
and wake time. The reliability of both subjective and objective sleep measures in adolescent female 
athletes during the follicular phase (FP) and luteal phases (LP) of the menstrual cycle was examined.  
Subjective measures demonstrated poor reliability in the luteal phase (sleep duration: ICC = -0.22; 
sleep quality: ICC = -0.49) but fair to good reliability during the follicular phase for sleep duration 
(ICC= 0.69; CV = 4.9%) and sleep quality (ICC = 0.57; CV = 8.9%). Objective measures showed 
poor reliability during the luteal phase for sleep duration (ICC = -0.17; CV 11%) and sleep quality 
(ICC= 0.00; CV = 9.2%) but fair reliability during the follicular phase for sleep duration (ICC = 0.38; 
CV = 7.2%) and sleep quality (ICC = 0.51; CV = 5.8%).  
When comparing objective data to subjective data, participants overestimated subjective sleep 
duration compared to the objective sleep duration data with the average difference being (1.38 h; p = 
3.00 x 10-47; effect size = 1.20). When comparing the two menstrual phases, sleep onset latency was 
non-significantly worse during the luteal phase compared to the follicular phase (LP = 20.8 mins; FP 
= 16.0 mins; p= 0.68; effect size = -1.54). Objective sleep quality was non-significantly worse in the 
luteal phase in comparison to the follicular phase (LP = 75.4; FP = 77.1%; p = 0.34; effect size = 1.56) 
and sleep duration was non-significantly shorter in the luteal phase compared to the follicular phase 
(LP = 9.04 hrs; FP = 9.09 hrs; p = 0.72; effect size = 0.24). Lastly, the mid-late pubertal group had 
3 
significantly longer sleep duration during the follicular phase compared to the early-mid pubertal 
group (7.98 vs 7.44 h; p =0.03; effect size = -4.36 ± 0.12).  
The final chapter discusses the study’s findings, indicating that although both subjective and objective 
measures have their advantages, the subjective measures tended to be more reliable during specific 
menstrual cycle phases. The participants underestimated their sleep duration, reinforcing the 
importance of combining objective and subjective measures to get more accurate assessments of sleep 
duration. The adolescent female athlete’s sleep quality and sleep onset latency can slightly be 
impacted by the menstrual cycle phases and sleep patterns were subtly worse during the luteal phase 
in comparison to the follicular phase; however, there were no statistically significant differences 
observed in the sleep measures studied. Sleep patterns do seem to improve in the mid-late pubertal 
maturation stage when compared to the early-mid pubertal stage. The data show that it is important to 
understand and take into consideration the menstrual cycle phases and the maturation stages of our 
athletes when creating training and recovery plans for these adolescent female athletes; however, 
more investigation is required to understand the potential effects of the menstrual cycle on sleep 
disturbances and its effect on female participation and performance in sport.

text: The Mentrual cycle's effect on sleep in adolescent female athletes. Sleep is a crucial aspect of recovery and overall well-being, yet many adolescent female athletes 
experience disruptions influenced by hormonal changes throughout the menstrual cycle. While 
research on elite adult athletes has explored sleep disturbances related to training and competition, 
there is limited understanding of how menstrual cycle fluctuations impact sleep in younger athletes. 
Variations in estrogen and progesterone levels across the follicular and luteal phases are known to 
affect sleep patterns, including sleep quality, duration and onset latency. Increased progesterone in the 
luteal phase, for example, has been linked to poorer sleep efficiency and greater difficulty falling 
asleep. Additionally, menstrual-related symptoms such as cramps, fatigue, and mood changes may 
further interfere with rest and recovery. Given the importance of sleep for athletic performance and 
well-being, the first chapter of this thesis seeks to examine the current knowledge on how different 
phases of the menstrual cycle influence sleep in adolescent female athletes. 
The second chapter of this thesis presents an original study that examined how different phases of the 
menstrual cycle affect sleep in adolescent female athletes. Over the course of three menstrual cycles, 
ten participants (14.5 ± 1.9) who were in their early-to-mid and mid-to-late pubertal stages, tracked 
their sleep using both subjective and objective methods. They recorded sleep duration and perceived 
sleep quality in a sleep diary. Simultaneously, wrist-worn actigraphy devices (Fitbit) measured 
objective sleep metrics, including sleep duration, sleep quality, sleep onset latency, wake episodes, 
and wake time. The reliability of both subjective and objective sleep measures in adolescent female 
athletes during the follicular phase (FP) and luteal phases (LP) of the menstrual cycle was examined.  
Subjective measures demonstrated poor reliability in the luteal phase (sleep duration: ICC = -0.22; 
sleep quality: ICC = -0.49) but fair to good reliability during the follicular phase for sleep duration 
(ICC= 0.69; CV = 4.9%) and sleep quality (ICC = 0.57; CV = 8.9%). Objective measures showed 
poor reliability during the luteal phase for sleep duration (ICC = -0.17; CV 11%) and sleep quality 
(ICC= 0.00; CV = 9.2%) but fair reliability during the follicular phase for sleep duration (ICC = 0.38; 
CV = 7.2%) and sleep quality (ICC = 0.51; CV = 5.8%).  
When comparing objective data to subjective data, participants overestimated subjective sleep 
duration compared to the objective sleep duration data with the average difference being (1.38 h; p = 
3.00 x 10-47; effect size = 1.20). When comparing the two menstrual phases, sleep onset latency was 
non-significantly worse during the luteal phase compared to the follicular phase (LP = 20.8 mins; FP 
= 16.0 mins; p= 0.68; effect size = -1.54). Objective sleep quality was non-significantly worse in the 
luteal phase in comparison to the follicular phase (LP = 75.4; FP = 77.1%; p = 0.34; effect size = 1.56) 
and sleep duration was non-significantly shorter in the luteal phase compared to the follicular phase 
(LP = 9.04 hrs; FP = 9.09 hrs; p = 0.72; effect size = 0.24). Lastly, the mid-late pubertal group had 
3 
significantly longer sleep duration during the follicular phase compared to the early-mid pubertal 
group (7.98 vs 7.44 h; p =0.03; effect size = -4.36 ± 0.12).  
The final chapter discusses the study’s findings, indicating that although both subjective and objective 
measures have their advantages, the subjective measures tended to be more reliable during specific 
menstrual cycle phases. The participants underestimated their sleep duration, reinforcing the 
importance of combining objective and subjective measures to get more accurate assessments of sleep 
duration. The adolescent female athlete’s sleep quality and sleep onset latency can slightly be 
impacted by the menstrual cycle phases and sleep patterns were subtly worse during the luteal phase 
in comparison to the follicular phase; however, there were no statistically significant differences 
observed in the sleep measures studied. Sleep patterns do seem to improve in the mid-late pubertal 
maturation stage when compared to the early-mid pubertal stage. The data show that it is important to 
understand and take into consideration the menstrual cycle phases and the maturation stages of our 
athletes when creating training and recovery plans for these adolescent female athletes; however, 
more investigation is required to understand the potential effects of the menstrual cycle on sleep 
disturbances and its effect on female participation and performance in sport.

year: 2025-09-12

title: At the eye of the storm: Researching schools and their communities enacting National Standards. 2013 Herbison Lecture

authors: Thrupp, Martin

abstract: It is with enormous pleasure that I deliver the 24th Herbison Lecture. I thank the NZARE Council for inviting me and I acknowledge those in the audience who have previously given the Herbison. Today I'm talking about my research and academic activism around National Standards and there's a nice circularity about giving this lecture in the South Island. It was at the NZARE conference in Christchurch back in 2007 that I gave my first conference paper on the National Standards, little knowing that responding to this policy would consume me for the next six years. But the RAINS project has been a high point of my career and as they say down here in the Mainland - "good things take time”. The paper I gave back in 2007 was called "The proposed National Standards for New Zealand's primary and intermediate pupils: Any better than national testing?" (Thrupp, 2007). It's a question we now have a few answers to I think. 

In my lecture today I'm interested in developing the metaphor of the "eye of the storm" as a kind of refuge, a quiet place where you can get on and do some good work despite the academic and political storm that swirls around. So I offer a case study of someone trying to muddle through various academic issues and dealing with the difficult politics of doing policy-relevant research. I also want to get to the substantive findings of the final RAINS report that we are launching after my lecture today.

text: At the eye of the storm: Researching schools and their communities enacting National Standards. 2013 Herbison Lecture It is with enormous pleasure that I deliver the 24th Herbison Lecture. I thank the NZARE Council for inviting me and I acknowledge those in the audience who have previously given the Herbison. Today I'm talking about my research and academic activism around National Standards and there's a nice circularity about giving this lecture in the South Island. It was at the NZARE conference in Christchurch back in 2007 that I gave my first conference paper on the National Standards, little knowing that responding to this policy would consume me for the next six years. But the RAINS project has been a high point of my career and as they say down here in the Mainland - "good things take time”. The paper I gave back in 2007 was called "The proposed National Standards for New Zealand's primary and intermediate pupils: Any better than national testing?" (Thrupp, 2007). It's a question we now have a few answers to I think. 

In my lecture today I'm interested in developing the metaphor of the "eye of the storm" as a kind of refuge, a quiet place where you can get on and do some good work despite the academic and political storm that swirls around. So I offer a case study of someone trying to muddle through various academic issues and dealing with the difficult politics of doing policy-relevant research. I also want to get to the substantive findings of the final RAINS report that we are launching after my lecture today.

year: 2014

title: Wearing moko: Maori facial marking in today’s world

authors: Nikora, Linda Waimarie

subjects: moko

abstract: The early voyagers, missionaries, settlers all reacted to the pukanohi, to the marked faces of the Maori people, during the period of first contact, and the century following it. Their accounts are vivid, judgemental, revealing, telling us as much about them as they do about the people they described.
Curiosity and horror are mixed with a genuine
fascination; where sternly evangelizing words
failed, armed confrontation occurred; and we
now live with the results, te ao hou, a new world. In this world, today, wahine mau kauae, tangata mau moko, pukanohi – wearers – are speaking for themselves, about themselves, and commenting on how others view them. Unanimously, they insist that the decision to take the marking is about continuity, affirmation, identity and commitment. It is also about wearing those ancestors, carrying them into the future; as their moko become a companion, a salient being with its own life force, its own integrity and power, beyond the face.

text: Wearing moko: Maori facial marking in today’s world The early voyagers, missionaries, settlers all reacted to the pukanohi, to the marked faces of the Maori people, during the period of first contact, and the century following it. Their accounts are vivid, judgemental, revealing, telling us as much about them as they do about the people they described.
Curiosity and horror are mixed with a genuine
fascination; where sternly evangelizing words
failed, armed confrontation occurred; and we
now live with the results, te ao hou, a new world. In this world, today, wahine mau kauae, tangata mau moko, pukanohi – wearers – are speaking for themselves, about themselves, and commenting on how others view them. Unanimously, they insist that the decision to take the marking is about continuity, affirmation, identity and commitment. It is also about wearing those ancestors, carrying them into the future; as their moko become a companion, a salient being with its own life force, its own integrity and power, beyond the face.

year: 2004-04-04