Lack of Sleep Affecting Students’ Mental Health Especially Women

*The following is excerpted from an online article posted by ScienceDaily.

More than two-thirds (65.5%) of students are experiencing poor sleep quality and this is linked to mental health problems, new research published in the peer-reviewed journal Annals of Human Biology suggests.

The findings, based on more than 1,000 (1,113) men and women attending university full-time, also show those reporting depressive symptoms were almost four times as likely to suffer from inadequate sleep habits.

Excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) was a problem among over half (55%) of the students — they were almost twice as likely to have depression or experience moderate to high-stress levels. In addition, the study highlights a gender divide, with poor quality sleep and EDS more prevalent among females.

The authors surveyed 1,113 undergraduates and post-graduates aged from 16 to 25 years who were enrolled in a range of studies at the Federal University of Mato Grosso in Brazil. Participants were asked about their sleep quality, EDS, socioeconomic status, and their body mass index (BMI) was also assessed.

The data was used to estimate the level of association between poor sleep quality/EDS, and depressive symptoms, and perceived stress levels. Results showed a significant link between these factors, and depressive issues, and moderate to high-stress levels.

Source: ScienceDaily
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/11/211102111148.htm