Honors Thesis Archive
| Author | Bailey Smith |
|---|---|
| Title | All-Nighters: The Correlation Between Improper Sleep Habits and Mental Health in University Students |
| Department | Nursing |
| Advisor | Catherine Short |
| Year | 2024 |
| Honors | University Honors |
| Full Text | View Thesis (903 KB) |
| Abstract | Research shows that there is an issue with college students obtaining enough quality sleep, and research also shows that college students are especially sensitive to mental health issues. This study will address the correlation between college student’s sleep quality and mental health issues. This research looked strictly at college student’s sleep and mental health is limited as a result of numerous studies using the variables besides sleep and mental health in their research. The specific mental health issues addressed are anxiety, depression, difficulty focusing, suicidal thoughts, severe mood swings, and insomnia. Research shows that the aforementioned mental health symptoms are most prevalent for undergraduate students. The PICO question posed is: Do college students who report less than ideal sleep quality tend to suffer more adverse mental health issues than those who report having better quality sleep? Data was collected via an anonymous survey sent to undergraduate students; questions involved rating one’s sleep quality, sleep quantity, and mental health quality. The results and analysis of this study suggests that sleep quality does impact mental health of university students in the sample. Students who report lower sleep quality tend to rate their mental health lower than those who report a higher sleep quality. The majority of students do not believe college students get enough sleep; they also believe they could benefit from better sleep. The most pressing mental health issues in this sample are anxiety, difficulty focusing, and depression because those were reported as impacting significantly more than half of the sample. More than 90% of the sample reported that they have peers who struggle with depression or anxiety. The vast majority of students reported that their mental health was worse after getting less sleep. Additionally, the majority also reported that even one good night of sleep impacted their mental health positively. In conclusion, the results of this study suggest there is a relationship between sleep and mental health, and institutions should work to implement strategies to promote restful environments and provide mental health care for university students. |
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