About the Journal

Download [This article belongs to Volume - 65, Issue - 10]

Abstract : The objectives of present study were to examine sleep patterns, the frequency of sleepiness during daytime, and to explore the relationship between sleep quality, duration, and academic performance, while also assessing the prevalence of hypertension and obesity among university students. The present cross-sectional research was conducted on 236 students from two universities in Southern and Eastern provinces of Saudi Arabia. An anonymous self-administered paper questionnaire was administered to first year through fourth year students. Statistical Analysis was performed using SPSS 26 software. Questionnaires were completed by 236 college students (98% response rate and 100% cooperation rate). Approximately 90% of the students consumed 2-3 cups of coffee daily. More than half of students (65%) obtained an average of 6-8 hours of sleep at night. Almost half (52%) felt daytime sleepiness and had an afternoon nap almost every weekday. On the other hand, sleeping for shorter duration and experiencing more disturbances were correlated with higher grade point averages (GPAs). Frequency of having troubled night sleep was significantly correlated with age (P=0.014), GPA (P<0.001), year of study (P<0.001), systolic blood pressure (P=0.012), and BMI (P=0.005). Sleep plays a vital role in academic success for students, but it's not the only factor. Other essential elements include nutrition, educational and study habits, social support, mental health, and physical activity. On the other hand, excessive use of social media and caffeine dependence can harm academic performance. Sleep quality in college students is also linked to academic performance, systolic blood pressure, and BMI.