Medical Students “The Night Owls”: Cross-Sectional Analysis of the Sleep Habits of Medical Undergraduates of an Institute in Northern India
Sleep habits of medical students
,
Abstract
Background and Objective: Sleep is a biological necessity and essential for optimal health. Literature suggests college students are an at-risk population for sleep deprivation; hence, the present research was undertaken to assess the sleep habits of medical student population.
Materials and Methods: The present cross-sectional study was carried out on a convenient sample of apparently healthy medical students at an institute in Northern India. Information pertaining to the usual sleep-wake habits of participants was collected through a structured questionnaire based on the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI).
Results: The study sample (n = 125) comprising 95 (76%) men and 30 (24%) women had mean age of 20.59 [standard deviation (SD) = 1.21] years. Findings about sleep habits were concerning as over two-thirds (68%) of the students were found to be sleep deprived. Almost half (46%) of the participants usually went to bed past midnight (average bedtime: 1:39 AM). Difficulty in falling asleep was reported by 46% of the sample. Half of the students perceived their sleep quality as poor or fair. Female students reported sleep deprivation more frequently (83% vs. 63%, respectively); female participants had about 3 times greater odds [odds ratio (OR): 2.92, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.02-8.31] of being sleep deprived than male students.
Conclusion: Sleep deprivation is quite prevalent among medical students with most of them staying up late at night. Difficulty in falling asleep and dissatisfaction with the sleep quality are also common. Female students seem to be more frequently sleep-restricted than male students.
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3. Banks S, Dinges DF. Behavioral and physiological consequences of sleep restriction. J Clin Sleep Med 2007; 3: 519-28.
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9. Buboltz WC, Brown F, Soper B. Sleep habits and patterns of college students: A preliminary study. J Am Coll Health 2001; 50: 131-5.
10. Brown FC, Buboltz WC, Soper B. Relationship of sleep hygiene awareness, sleep hygiene practices, and sleep quality in university students. Behav Med 2002; 28: 33-8.
11. Hicks RA, Fernandez C, Pellegrini RJ. Self-reported sleep durations of college students: Normative data for 1978-79, 1988-89, and 2000-01. Percept Mot Skills 2001; 93: 139-40.
12. Hicks RA, Fernandez C, Pellegrini RJ. Striking changes in the sleep satisfaction of university students over the last two decades. Percept Mot Skills 2001; 93: 660.
13. Brown F, Soper, Buboltz, et al. Prevalence of delayed sleep phase syndrome in university students. College student journal 2001; 35: 472-6.
14. Eller T, Aluoja A, Vasar V, et al. Symptoms of anxiety and depression in Estonian medical students with sleep problems. Depress Anxiety 2006; 23: 250-6.
15. Hidalgo MP, Caumo W. Sleep disturbances associated with minor psychiatric disorders in medical students. Neurol Sci 2002; 23: 35-9.
16. Jean-Louis G, von GH, Zizi F, et al. Mood states and sleepiness in college students: influences of age, sex, habitual sleep, and substance use. Percept Mot Skills 1998; 87: 507-12.
17. Kelly WE, Kelly KE, Clanton RC. The relationship between sleep length and grade point average among college students. College student journal 2001; 35: 84-6.
18. Medeiros AL, Mendes DBF, Lima PcF, et al. The acdemic performance in medical students. Biological Rhythm Research 2001; 32: 263-70.
19. Trockel MT, Barnes MD, Egget DL. Health-related variables and academic performance among first-year college students: implications for sleep and other behaviors. J Am Coll Health 2000; 49: 125-31.
20. Fafrowicz M, Oginska H, Mojsa-Kaja J, et al. Chronic sleep deficit and performance of a sustained attention task an electrooculography study. Chronobiol Int 2010; 27: 934-44.
21. Horne JA. Sleep loss and "divergent" thinking ability. Sleep 1988; 11: 528-36.
22. Harrison Y, Horne JA. The impact of sleep deprivation on decision making: a review. J Exp Psychol Appl 2000; 6: 236-49.
23. Harrison Y, Horne JA. Sleep deprivation affects speech. Sleep 1997; 20: 871-7.
24. Deming L, Zhenyun W, Daosheng S, et al. The Relationship of Sleep to Learning and Memory. International Journal of Mental Health 1991; 20: 41-7.
25. Maquet P. The role of sleep in learning and memory. Science 2001; 294: 1048-52.
26. Engle-Friedman M, Riela S, Golan R, et al. The effect of sleep loss on next day effort. J Sleep Res 2003; 12: 113-24.
27. Buysse DJ, Reynolds CF, Monk TH, et al. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index: A new instrument for psychiatric practice and research. Psychiatry Res 1989; 28: 193-213.
28. Parkerson GR, Broadhead WE, Tse CK. The health status and life satisfaction of first-year medical students. Acad Med 1990; 65: 586-8.
29. Machado ERS, Varella VBR, Andrade MMM. The influence of study schedules and work on the sleep cowake cycle of college students. Rhythm Research 1998; 29: 578-84.
29. Machado ERS, Varella VBR, Andrade MMM. The influence of study schedules and work on the Rhythm Research 1998; 29: 578-84.
reported sleep durations of college students: Normative data for 1978-79, 1988-89, and 2000-01. Percept Mot Skills 2001; 93: 139-40.
12. Hicks RA, Fernandez C, Pellegrini RJ. Striking changes in the sleep satisfaction of university students over the last two decades. Percept Mot Skills 2001; 93: 660.
13. Brown F, Soper, Buboltz, et al. Prevalence of delayed sleep phase syndrome in university students. College student journal 2001; 35: 472-6.
14. Eller T, Aluoja A, Vasar V, et al. Symptoms of anxiety and depression in Estonian medical students with sleep problems. Depress Anxiety 2006; 23: 250-6.
15. Hidalgo MP, Caumo W. Sleep disturbances associated with minor psychiatric disorders in medical students. Neurol Sci 2002; 23: 35-9.
16. Jean-Louis G, von GH, Zizi F, et al. Mood states and sleepiness in college students: influences of age, sex, habitual sleep, and substance use. Percept Mot Skills 1998; 87: 507-12.
17. Kelly WE, Kelly KE, Clanton RC. The relationship between sleep length and grade-point average among college students. College student journal 2001; 35: 84-6.
18. Medeiros AL, Mendes DBF, Lima PcF, et al. The relationships between sleep cowake cycle and academic performance in medical students. Biological Rhythm Research 2001; 32: 263-70.
19. Trockel MT, Barnes MD, Egget DL. Health-related variables and academic performance among first-year college students: implications for sleep and other behaviors. J Am Coll Health 2000; 49: 125-31.
20. Fafrowicz M, Oginska H, Mojsa-Kaja J, et al. Chronic sleep deficit and performance of a sustained attention task an electrooculography study. Chronobiol Int 2010; 27: 934-44.
21. Horne JA. Sleep loss and "divergent" thinking ability. Sleep 1988; 11: 528-36.
22. Harrison Y, Horne JA. The impact of sleep deprivation on decision making: a review. J Exp Psychol Appl 2000; 6: 236-49.
23. Harrison Y, Horne JA. Sleep deprivation affects speech. Sleep 1997; 20: 871-7.
24. Deming L, Zhenyun W, Daosheng S, et al. The Relationship of Sleep to Learning and Memory. International Journal of Mental Health 1991; 20: 41-7.
25. Maquet P. The role of sleep in learning and memory. Science 2001; 294: 1048-52.
26. Engle-Friedman M, Riela S, Golan R, et al. The effect of sleep loss on next day effort. J Sleep Res 2003; 12: 113-24.
27. Buysse DJ, Reynolds CF, Monk TH, et al. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index: A new instrument for psychiatric practice and research. Psychiatry Res 1989; 28: 193-213.
28. Parkerson GR, Broadhead WE, Tse CK. The health status and life satisfaction of first-year medical students. Acad Med 1990; 65: 586-8.
29. Machado ERS, Varella VBR, Andrade MMM. The influence of study schedules and work on the sleep cowake cycle of college students. Biological Rhythm Research 1998; 29: 578-84.
30. Sweileh WM, Ali IA, Sawalha AF, et al. Sleep hab-its and sleep problems among Palestinian students. Child Adolesc Psychiatry Ment Health 2011; 5: 25.
31. Watson NF, Badr MS, Belenky G, et al. Recom-mended amount of sleep for a healthy adult: A joint consensus statement of the American academy of sleep medicine and sleep research society. Sleep 2015; 38: 843-4.
32. Ban DJ, Lee TJ. Sleep duration, subjective sleep disturbances and associated factors among university students in Korea. J Korean Med Sci 2001; 16: 475-80.
33. Tsui YY, Wing YK. A study on the sleep patterns and problems of university business students in Hong Kong. J Am Coll Health 2009; 58: 167-76.
34. Oluwole OS. Sleep habits in Nigerian undergraduates. Acta Neurol Scand 2010; 121: 1-6.
35. Gupta S, Bhardwaj A, Nadda A, et al. A comparative study of sleep quality in different phases of the medical course: A study from Haryana (North India). J Family Med Prim Care 2020; 9: 2006-10.
36. Forquer LM, Camden AE, Gabriau KM, et al. Sleep patterns of college students at a public universi-ty. J Am Coll Health 2008; 56: 563-5.
37. Gaultney JF. The prevalence of sleep disorders in college students: Impact on academic performance. J Am Coll Health 2010; 59: 91-7.
38. Dunn C, Goodman O, Szklo-Coxe M. Sleep dura-tion, sleep quality, excessive daytime sleepiness, and chronotype in university students in India: A systemat-ic review. J Health Soc Sci 2022; 7: 36-52.
39. Gilbert SP, Weaver CC. Sleep quality and academic performance in university students: A wake up call for college psychologists. Journal of College Student Psychotherapy 2010; 24: 295-306.
40. Hawkins J, Shaw P. Self-reported sleep quality in college students: A repeated measures approach. Sleep 1992; 15: 545-9.
41. Liu X, Tang M, Hu L, et al. Sleep quality and its correlates in college students. Chin Ment Health J 1995; 9: 148-50.
2. Aurora RN, Kim JS, Crainiceanu C, et al. Habitual sleep duration and all-cause mortality in a general community sample. Sleep 2016; 39: 1903-9.
3. Banks S, Dinges DF. Behavioral and physiological consequences of sleep restriction. J Clin Sleep Med 2007; 3: 519-28.
4. Spiegel K, Leproult R, Van Cauter E. Impact of sleep debt on metabolic and endocrine function. Lancet 1999; 354: 1435-9.
5. Knutson KL, Van Cauter E, Rathouz PJ, et al. Trends in the prevalence of short sleepers in the USA: 1975-2006. Sleep 2010; 33: 37-45.
6. Youngstedt SD, Goff EE, Reynolds AM, et al. Has adult sleep duration declined over the last 50+ years? Sleep Med Rev 2016; 28: 69-85.
7. Institute of Medicine (US) Committee on Sleep Medicine and Research. Sleep Disorders and Sleep Deprivation: An Unmet Public Health Problem. Washington, DC: National Academies Press (US); 2006.
8. Loayza HM, Ponte TS, Carvalho CG, et al. Association between mental health screening by self-report questionnaire and insomnia in medical students. Arq Neuropsiquiatr 2001; 59: 180-5.
9. Buboltz WC, Brown F, Soper B. Sleep habits and patterns of college students: A preliminary study. J Am Coll Health 2001; 50: 131-5.
10. Brown FC, Buboltz WC, Soper B. Relationship of sleep hygiene awareness, sleep hygiene practices, and sleep quality in university students. Behav Med 2002; 28: 33-8.
11. Hicks RA, Fernandez C, Pellegrini RJ. Self-reported sleep durations of college students: Normative data for 1978-79, 1988-89, and 2000-01. Percept Mot Skills 2001; 93: 139-40.
12. Hicks RA, Fernandez C, Pellegrini RJ. Striking changes in the sleep satisfaction of university students over the last two decades. Percept Mot Skills 2001; 93: 660.
13. Brown F, Soper, Buboltz, et al. Prevalence of delayed sleep phase syndrome in university students. College student journal 2001; 35: 472-6.
14. Eller T, Aluoja A, Vasar V, et al. Symptoms of anxiety and depression in Estonian medical students with sleep problems. Depress Anxiety 2006; 23: 250-6.
15. Hidalgo MP, Caumo W. Sleep disturbances associated with minor psychiatric disorders in medical students. Neurol Sci 2002; 23: 35-9.
16. Jean-Louis G, von GH, Zizi F, et al. Mood states and sleepiness in college students: influences of age, sex, habitual sleep, and substance use. Percept Mot Skills 1998; 87: 507-12.
17. Kelly WE, Kelly KE, Clanton RC. The relationship between sleep length and grade point average among college students. College student journal 2001; 35: 84-6.
18. Medeiros AL, Mendes DBF, Lima PcF, et al. The acdemic performance in medical students. Biological Rhythm Research 2001; 32: 263-70.
19. Trockel MT, Barnes MD, Egget DL. Health-related variables and academic performance among first-year college students: implications for sleep and other behaviors. J Am Coll Health 2000; 49: 125-31.
20. Fafrowicz M, Oginska H, Mojsa-Kaja J, et al. Chronic sleep deficit and performance of a sustained attention task an electrooculography study. Chronobiol Int 2010; 27: 934-44.
21. Horne JA. Sleep loss and "divergent" thinking ability. Sleep 1988; 11: 528-36.
22. Harrison Y, Horne JA. The impact of sleep deprivation on decision making: a review. J Exp Psychol Appl 2000; 6: 236-49.
23. Harrison Y, Horne JA. Sleep deprivation affects speech. Sleep 1997; 20: 871-7.
24. Deming L, Zhenyun W, Daosheng S, et al. The Relationship of Sleep to Learning and Memory. International Journal of Mental Health 1991; 20: 41-7.
25. Maquet P. The role of sleep in learning and memory. Science 2001; 294: 1048-52.
26. Engle-Friedman M, Riela S, Golan R, et al. The effect of sleep loss on next day effort. J Sleep Res 2003; 12: 113-24.
27. Buysse DJ, Reynolds CF, Monk TH, et al. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index: A new instrument for psychiatric practice and research. Psychiatry Res 1989; 28: 193-213.
28. Parkerson GR, Broadhead WE, Tse CK. The health status and life satisfaction of first-year medical students. Acad Med 1990; 65: 586-8.
29. Machado ERS, Varella VBR, Andrade MMM. The influence of study schedules and work on the sleep cowake cycle of college students. Rhythm Research 1998; 29: 578-84.
29. Machado ERS, Varella VBR, Andrade MMM. The influence of study schedules and work on the Rhythm Research 1998; 29: 578-84.
reported sleep durations of college students: Normative data for 1978-79, 1988-89, and 2000-01. Percept Mot Skills 2001; 93: 139-40.
12. Hicks RA, Fernandez C, Pellegrini RJ. Striking changes in the sleep satisfaction of university students over the last two decades. Percept Mot Skills 2001; 93: 660.
13. Brown F, Soper, Buboltz, et al. Prevalence of delayed sleep phase syndrome in university students. College student journal 2001; 35: 472-6.
14. Eller T, Aluoja A, Vasar V, et al. Symptoms of anxiety and depression in Estonian medical students with sleep problems. Depress Anxiety 2006; 23: 250-6.
15. Hidalgo MP, Caumo W. Sleep disturbances associated with minor psychiatric disorders in medical students. Neurol Sci 2002; 23: 35-9.
16. Jean-Louis G, von GH, Zizi F, et al. Mood states and sleepiness in college students: influences of age, sex, habitual sleep, and substance use. Percept Mot Skills 1998; 87: 507-12.
17. Kelly WE, Kelly KE, Clanton RC. The relationship between sleep length and grade-point average among college students. College student journal 2001; 35: 84-6.
18. Medeiros AL, Mendes DBF, Lima PcF, et al. The relationships between sleep cowake cycle and academic performance in medical students. Biological Rhythm Research 2001; 32: 263-70.
19. Trockel MT, Barnes MD, Egget DL. Health-related variables and academic performance among first-year college students: implications for sleep and other behaviors. J Am Coll Health 2000; 49: 125-31.
20. Fafrowicz M, Oginska H, Mojsa-Kaja J, et al. Chronic sleep deficit and performance of a sustained attention task an electrooculography study. Chronobiol Int 2010; 27: 934-44.
21. Horne JA. Sleep loss and "divergent" thinking ability. Sleep 1988; 11: 528-36.
22. Harrison Y, Horne JA. The impact of sleep deprivation on decision making: a review. J Exp Psychol Appl 2000; 6: 236-49.
23. Harrison Y, Horne JA. Sleep deprivation affects speech. Sleep 1997; 20: 871-7.
24. Deming L, Zhenyun W, Daosheng S, et al. The Relationship of Sleep to Learning and Memory. International Journal of Mental Health 1991; 20: 41-7.
25. Maquet P. The role of sleep in learning and memory. Science 2001; 294: 1048-52.
26. Engle-Friedman M, Riela S, Golan R, et al. The effect of sleep loss on next day effort. J Sleep Res 2003; 12: 113-24.
27. Buysse DJ, Reynolds CF, Monk TH, et al. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index: A new instrument for psychiatric practice and research. Psychiatry Res 1989; 28: 193-213.
28. Parkerson GR, Broadhead WE, Tse CK. The health status and life satisfaction of first-year medical students. Acad Med 1990; 65: 586-8.
29. Machado ERS, Varella VBR, Andrade MMM. The influence of study schedules and work on the sleep cowake cycle of college students. Biological Rhythm Research 1998; 29: 578-84.
30. Sweileh WM, Ali IA, Sawalha AF, et al. Sleep hab-its and sleep problems among Palestinian students. Child Adolesc Psychiatry Ment Health 2011; 5: 25.
31. Watson NF, Badr MS, Belenky G, et al. Recom-mended amount of sleep for a healthy adult: A joint consensus statement of the American academy of sleep medicine and sleep research society. Sleep 2015; 38: 843-4.
32. Ban DJ, Lee TJ. Sleep duration, subjective sleep disturbances and associated factors among university students in Korea. J Korean Med Sci 2001; 16: 475-80.
33. Tsui YY, Wing YK. A study on the sleep patterns and problems of university business students in Hong Kong. J Am Coll Health 2009; 58: 167-76.
34. Oluwole OS. Sleep habits in Nigerian undergraduates. Acta Neurol Scand 2010; 121: 1-6.
35. Gupta S, Bhardwaj A, Nadda A, et al. A comparative study of sleep quality in different phases of the medical course: A study from Haryana (North India). J Family Med Prim Care 2020; 9: 2006-10.
36. Forquer LM, Camden AE, Gabriau KM, et al. Sleep patterns of college students at a public universi-ty. J Am Coll Health 2008; 56: 563-5.
37. Gaultney JF. The prevalence of sleep disorders in college students: Impact on academic performance. J Am Coll Health 2010; 59: 91-7.
38. Dunn C, Goodman O, Szklo-Coxe M. Sleep dura-tion, sleep quality, excessive daytime sleepiness, and chronotype in university students in India: A systemat-ic review. J Health Soc Sci 2022; 7: 36-52.
39. Gilbert SP, Weaver CC. Sleep quality and academic performance in university students: A wake up call for college psychologists. Journal of College Student Psychotherapy 2010; 24: 295-306.
40. Hawkins J, Shaw P. Self-reported sleep quality in college students: A repeated measures approach. Sleep 1992; 15: 545-9.
41. Liu X, Tang M, Hu L, et al. Sleep quality and its correlates in college students. Chin Ment Health J 1995; 9: 148-50.
| Files | ||
| Issue | Vol 8 No 1-2 (2023): Winter- Spring | |
| Section | Original Article(s) | |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.18502/jss.v8i1-2.18036 | |
| Keywords | ||
| Medical students; Sleep habits; Sleep deprivation | ||
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How to Cite
1.
Kaushik N, Sharma A. Medical Students “The Night Owls”: Cross-Sectional Analysis of the Sleep Habits of Medical Undergraduates of an Institute in Northern India. J Sleep Sci. 2025;8(1-2):37-43.
