Sleep disorders and associated factors among university students

Abstract

          Background: Among university students, sleep disorders are common and affect their academic performance, mental well-being, and overall health. Poor sleep quality in this population is attributed to various lifestyle, environmental, and associated factors, including high caffeine consumption, academic stress, and high electronic device usage behavior. Nevertheless, there is a limited study on the prevalence and potential factors associated with sleep disorders among university students in Afghanistan. Objectives: This study aims to determine the prevalence of sleep disorders and identify the associated factors influencing sleep quality among Afghan university students. Results: A cross-sectional design was used to collect data from the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) on sleep quality and daytime sleepiness in 698 students. It showed that 84.1% of students have poor sleep quality, and 42.4% of them have severe sleep disorders. At least 46.4% of students also had greater-than-normal daytime sleepiness; mild to moderate or severe excessive daytime sleepiness was found in 17.2%. Higher caffeine intake (p < 0.001), narcotics usage (p < 0.001), and frequent electronics (p = 0.024) usage appeared to be correlates of worse sleep quality. The identified contributors to worse sleep include academic fatigue and being a medical student (p = 0.003). Medical students report worse sleep than their peers in other fields. Conclusion: The study found a high prevalence of sleep disorders among Afghan university students characterized by various lifestyle and academic determinants. Medical students seem especially susceptible to this because of notably intensive academic requirements. Interventions that address these factors, particularly sleep hygiene, stress management, and moderated stimulant use, may help students sleep better, improve academic performance, and promote general health.