Sleep quality of undergraduates - current situation and associated factors

Abstract

Objectives: This study aims to assess the quality of sleep among undergraduates and analyze factors that affect their sleep quality. From there suggest practical solutions that consider the unique needs of students and the constraints of their academic and personal lives. Our goal is to promote healthy sleep habits among students, which can improve their academic performance, mental and physical health, and overall well-being. Material and methods: It was descriptive cross-sectional research, primary data was collected from students studying at universities and colleges in Ho Chi Minh City. Undergraduates who participated completed an anonymous web-based survey that involved questionnaires about sleep and their naps, smartphone use, physical activities, caffeine beverages use, and stress. The study used the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Questionnaire Index (PSQI) to measure sleep quality. We conducted descriptive statistics using Excel tools and stated 8 hypotheses based on theory. We selected equal sample sizes for the two comparison groups and used a t-test to test each hypothesis. We will accept or reject the hypothesis based on the p-value. Results: The percentage of students with poor sleep quality according to the PSQI scale is 77%. However, more than 92% of students rated their sleep quality as good or better. Students were experiencing poorer sleep quality than they believed. This disparity between perception and reality highlights the importance of educating students on the importance of good sleep hygiene and the potential consequences of insufficient sleep. Testing has indicated that taking a nap within 30 minutes can significantly reduce the likelihood of poor sleep quality (p = 0,035; 0,01 < p < 0,05). Similarly, refraining from caffeine consumption can positively impact sleep quality (p = 0,012; 0,01 < p < 0,05). Finally, stress levels in students are negatively related to sleep quality (p = 0,000; p < 0,01). These findings suggest that interventions addressing napping habits, caffeine consumption, and stress levels may significantly improve the quality of sleep among students.