International Journal of School and Cognitive Psychology
Open Access

Abstract

The Effects of Sleep on the Academic Performance and Psychological Distress among Medical Students in Saudi Arabia

Noara Alhusseini* and Majed Ramadan

Introduction: Sufficient sleep is an essential aspect of a healthy lifestyle. Sleep deprivation is prevalent in the general population due to prolonged work hours, obesity, and increased internet action. However, sleep deprivation is not limited to the general population as medical students are also affected. Sleep deprivation leads to severe consequences such as reduced cognitive function, gastrointestinal diseases, systemic inflammation, and depression.

Purpose: This study aims to identify and understand the correlation between quality of sleep, academic and psychological distress among medical students.

Methods: A cross-sectional study among Alfaisal University undergraduate medical students was conducted, and an online survey was distributed via the university email system. The sociodemographic characteristics were assessed across the poor and good quality of sleep using chi-square, Fisher exact test, and t-test where appropriate. We used purposeful variable selection for model building in our multivariate analyses. All statistical tests were 2-sided, and findings were considered statistically significant at P<05.

Results: A total of 241 respondents participated in the study. Two-thirds of the respondents reported poor sleep quality (75.93%). The highest psychological distress was reported among respondents with poor quality of sleep (48.63%). There was a statistically significant positive linear relationship between Kessler's Psychological Distress score and sleep quality score (P-value<0001). The mean sleeping score for those with GPA (1.5-1.9) students was higher than those with GPAs 2-4. This means that students with higher GPAs had better sleeping quality.

Conclusion: The quality of sleep among medical students is poor. Poor quality of sleep is associated with psychological distress and poor academic performance. Sufficient sleep is critical for general health and mental functioning. Future research that assesses the impact of medical students' sleep habits and disturbances on their overall health is highly encouraged.

Published Date: 2023-05-08; Received Date: 2023-02-02