Perceived stress and worldview influence sleep quality in Bolivian and United States university students

Optimism and Sleep in Aging Women: Bidirectional Relationships

OBJECTIVE

Sleep quality and duration are important for biological restoration and promotion of psychological well-being. Optimism may facilitate or result from sufficient sleep, but questions remain as to directionality. The present study tested how optimism is associated with levels of and variability in sleep quantity and quality in a longitudinal burst design.

METHODS

Midlife and older women ( N = 199) reported their sleep quantity and quality in online diaries for a 7-day period, every 3 months for 2 years. Optimism was measured at baseline and end-of-study. Multilevel models tested the effects of optimism on sleep. Linear regression models tested the effect of sleep on optimism.

RESULTS

Baseline optimism was associated with higher sleep quality ( γ = 2.13 [1.16 to 3.11], p < .0001) and lower intraindividual variability (IIV; night-to-night and wave-to-wave) in sleep quantity (night-to-night: γ = -0.07 [-0.13 to -0.005], p = .03; wave-to-wave: b = -0.07 [-0.12 to -0.02], p = .003). In turn, higher average sleep quality (but not quantity) was associated with higher optimism at end-of-study ( b = 0.02 [0.007 to 0.03], p = .002). Variability in sleep was unrelated to optimism.

CONCLUSIONS

Optimism may play an important role in maintaining sleep quality and consistency in sleep quantity, perhaps by buffering stress. Similarly, sleep quality may play an important role in maintaining optimism. The cycle whereby optimism and sleep enhance one another could improve physical health and psychological well-being among aging adults.

Effects of stress on sleep quality: multiple mediating effects of rumination and social anxiety

BACKGROUND

In contemporary society, with the accelerated pace of work and life, more and more people feel different degrees of stress. Long-term stress may not only lead to insomnia, but also to mental health problems (e.g., anxiety and depression), which has a significant impact on people's quality of life and mental health.

OBJECTIVE

This study primarily investigates the mechanism through which stress affects sleep quality among college students.

METHODS

We conducted research on 1653 Chinese college students using four scales with high reliability and validity: stress, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, social anxiety, and rumination.

RESULTS

The study found: (1) Stress can significantly and positively predict sleep quality and rumination; (2) Rumination can positively predict social anxiety; (3) Social anxiety can positively predict sleep quality; (4) Stress can affect sleep quality through social anxiety and rumination separately, and stress can also affect sleep quality through the chained mediation of rumination and social anxiety.

CONCLUSION

This study reveals the relationship and mechanisms between stress and sleep quality. It not only deepens the research on the impact of stress on sleep quality but also provides theoretical support and new methods for mental health professionals to help clients improve their sleep quality. In practice, in addition to using some common psychological intervention methods to help individuals reduce stress, we should pay more attention to how to help clients reduce rumination and social anxiety, This is significant in improving the quality of an individual's sleep.

Energy drink consumption and sleep parameters in college and university students: a national cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the frequency of energy drink (ED) consumption, and the association between ED consumption and selected sleep characteristics and parameters in Norwegian college and university students. We also explored whether these associations varied based on sex.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional.

SETTING

Data were gathered from the SHOT2022 study (Students' Health and Well-being Study), a national survey.

PARTICIPANTS

53 266 students, aged 18-35 years, enrolled in higher education in Norway (2022).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Estimated marginal means were computed from general linear models investigating the association between ED consumption and continuous sleep outcomes, while log-link binomial regression analysis was used for dichotomous sleep outcomes of sleep measures. All models were adjusted for age.

RESULTS

Among the participants, 4.7% of men and 3.3% of women reported consuming ED daily. The frequency of ED consumption was inversely associated with sleep duration and sleep efficiency, while a direct association was observed with the frequency of ED consumption and sleep patterns such as sleep onset latency and wake after sleep onset across sexes. The strongest association was found between daily ED consumption and short sleep duration where men had a risk ratio (RR) of 2.07; 95% CI 1.77 to 2.42, and women had a RR of 1.87; 95% CI 1.64 to 2.14.

CONCLUSION

ED consumption was a strong determinant for negative sleep outcomes. Even small amounts of ED were associated with poorer sleep outcomes, which warrant more attention towards the consequences of consuming ED among college and university students.

Associations between Stress, Anxiety, Depression and Sleep Quality among Healthcare Students

OBJECTIVES

Stress, anxiety, and depression among students have many negative health consequences and may predispose students to poor sleep quality; therefore, this research aimed to investigate the perceived stress, anxiety, and depression and their relation to the level of sleep quality among healthcare students.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study using a validated survey was conducted among Saudi healthcare students from different regions during the period from 26 September 2022 to 30 October 2022. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) was utilized to assess sleep quality. PSPP Statistical Analysis Software version 1.2.0 was used for all statistical analyses.

RESULTS

701 respondents participated in this research; the response rate was 73.8%. About 60% of the study sample was female, and the average age was 20.9 years. 80.3% of students have poor sleep quality; the participants' mean sleeping hours per night was 6.81 ± 1.88 h. About three-quarters of students (72.9%) perceive themselves as stressed. A significant positive correlation was observed between sleep quality and perceived stress (r-value = 0.363), anxiety (r-value = 0.387), and depression (r-value = 0.347). Poor sleep quality was more likely among those with stress than those without stress (AOR = 1.79; 95% CI 1.07, 2.99) and two times more likely among students with cases of anxiety than those without anxiety (AOR = 2.07; 95% CI 1.10, 3.94).

CONCLUSIONS

Our study highlights the high prevalence of poor sleep quality, anxiety, depression, and stress among healthcare students in Saudi Arabia. Students' reported stress, anxiety, and residence region were associated with poor sleep quality. These results imply the necessity of regular screening and appropriate intervention for sleep problems, stressors, and anxiety among healthcare students.

Assessing the Impact of Technology Use, Social Engagement, Emotional Regulation, and Sleep Quality Among Undergraduate Students in Jordan: Examining the Mediating Effect of Perceived and Academic Stress

The quality of sleep is affected by several psychological factors. University students experience different types of stress and develop various strategies to cope with it. This study assesses the impact of technology use, social engagement, emotional regulation, and sleep quality among undergraduate students in Jordan, while examining the mediating effect of perceived and academic stress. A convenience sample of 308 undergraduate students was selected from the University of Jordan. The results indicated that the study model was fit, with significant direct negative impacts of social engagement, time management, and emotional regulation on perceived stress. Additionally, there was a significant direct negative relationship between technology use, time management, and emotional regulation on academic stress. The results show indirect significant standardized effects of social engagement, time management, and emotional regulation on the quality of sleep through the mediation of perceived stress.

Perceived stress and associated factors among university students in Ethiopia during the late stage of the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study

Background

During extensive outbreaks of infectious diseases, people who are impacted, particularly the subgroups of the community who are at an increased risk of mental health problems, may experience increased stress and mental health difficulties. University students are one such susceptible population and are prone to experiencing high levels of stress as compared with the general population. Therefore, this study aimed at assessing perceived stress and identifying its associated factors among university students in Ethiopia during the late stage of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted among university students in Ethiopia from 30 May to 30 June 2021. Students were asked to fill out an online survey on Google Forms that included consent, sociodemographic information, the UCLA-8 Loneliness Scale, the standard validated stress scale (PSS-10) questionnaire, and the three-item Oslo Social Support Scale (OSSS-3) to assess social support. The collected data were exported to SPSS 26. Descriptive and analytical statistics were carried out. Binary and multiple logistic regression analyses were performed to find associated factors, and variables with a p-value of 0.05 were considered statistically significant variables.

Results

A total of 426 university students were included in the survey, among whom 268 (62.9%) were male participants. The age of the participants ranged from 18 to 37 years. Health-related departments accounted for 37.1% of the participants, while non-health-related departments accounted for 62.9%. The prevalence of stress was 18.3% in the study population. In this study, extreme susceptibility to COVID-19, sleeping problems, poor self-efficacy to prevent COVID-19, and loneliness were significantly associated with perceived stress.

Conclusion

Stress was prevalent among university students in Ethiopia during the late stage of the COVID-19 pandemic. Extreme susceptibility to COVID-19, sleeping problems, poor self-efficacy, and loneliness were identified as factors for stress. Therefore, we suggest that universities should provide opportunities for safe social connection, counseling, and guidance for students.

Factors associated with perceived stress in Middle Eastern university students

Objective: University students face high levels of stress-related factors, such as an unfamiliar environment, challenging workload, and uncertainty about their ability to succeed. Participants: A total of 370 students in Qatar who consented to participate between February 2017 and February 2018. Methods: This cross-sectional study assessed perceived stress [using a validated 4-point perceived stress scale (PSS-4)], as well as diet, exercise, body mass index, sleep, and life satisfaction. Results: Among students aged 18-39 (mean = 20.1 ± 3.0 years), PSS-4 scores varied between 0 and 16 (mean = 7.4 ± 3.4). Elevated stress was significantly associated with female sex, country of origin, residing off-campus, eating when bored, lack of self-discipline, disturbed sleep, and low levels of life satisfaction. Furthermore, students with PSS-4 scores above the median level were 2.3 times likelier to report difficulty concentrating on academic work. Conclusion: Elevated stress levels are present in university students in Qatar. Strengthening coping skills may improve health and academic performance.

Effectiveness of Aromatherapy Yoga in Stress Reduction and Sleep Quality Improvement among Chinese Female College Students: A Quasi-Experimental Study

College students, particularly female students, often suffer from severe stress and poor sleep. Aromatherapy yoga has become a popular exercise in recent years and may help reduce stress and improve sleep quality, although empirical evidence is limited. We investigated the effectiveness of aromatherapy yoga intervention in reducing stress and improving sleep quality among Chinese female college students. A total of 89 participants—44 in the experimental group (aromatherapy yoga) and 45 in the control group (yoga)—with an average age of 19.88 ± 1.13 years, were enrolled in this quasi-experimental study. Interventions were performed in the respective groups once a week for 12 weeks, for 90 min each time. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test and Mann–Whitney U test (including effect size) were used to test the differences in stress reduction and sleep quality before and after the intervention. From the findings of the current research, both therapies did not help female students’ stress levels or sleep hygiene significantly. However, aromatherapy yoga has the potential to improve sleep disturbances experienced by female college students. Additionally, there was no difference in the amount of stress or the quality of sleep between the aromatherapy yoga groups and the regular yoga groups before and after therapy.

Risk perception and mental health among college students in China during the COVID-19 pandemic: A moderated mediation model

Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 epidemic, it has spread on a large scale around the world, seriously affecting people's physical and mental health. In China, almost all schools have postponed semesters, suspended offline classes, and implemented closed-off management, which has brought significant challenges to the study and life of college students. The study aimed to explore the relationship between risk perception, perceived stress, perceived control, and mental health among Chinese college students. This cross-sectional study was conducted among 1,856 college students. The results showed that risk perception was positively correlated with mental health. After adding the mediating variable of perceived stress, risk perception still significantly predicted mental health. In addition, the interaction term of perceived stress and perceived control significantly negatively predicted mental health. Specifically, perceived stress significantly affected mental health in the low-perceived control group. In contrast, in the high-perceived control group, the predictive effect of perceived stress on mental health disappeared. The present study showed that perceived stress partially mediated the relationship between risk perception and mental health; perceived control moderated the relationship between perceived stress and mental health, and high perceived control could buffer the effect of perceived stress on mental health.

Sleep, stress and aggression: Meta-analyses investigating associations and causality

Prior research suggests that sleep is associated with increased subjective stress and aggression, but important questions remain about the typical magnitude of these relationships, as well as their potential moderators. We therefore conducted the first meta-analysis of this literature. Across 340 associational and experimental studies, significant associations were identified between sleep with both subjective stress (r = 0.307, p < .001) and aggression (r = 0.258, p < .001) in individuals from the general population, as well as between sleep with subjective stress (r = 0.425, p < .001) in individuals with sleep disorders. Experimental sleep restriction also led to increased subjective stress (g = 0.403, p = .017) and aggression (g = 0.330, p = .042). These findings suggest that poorer sleep is associated with - and leads to - heightened levels of subjective stress and aggression. These findings, and their implications, are discussed in relation to neurobiological literature, which highlights the complex interplay between metabolic activity in the brain, hormonal changes, and behavior.

The association of smartphone addiction, sleep quality and perceived stress amongst Jordanian dental students

INTRODUCTION

Smartphone addiction has been associated with sleeping problems and psychological anxiety. However, little is known about the association of smartphone addiction, sleep quality and perceived stress amongst university students particularly in dentistry. This study investigated the association of these variables amongst dental students in a Jordanian dental faculty.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A sample of 420 undergraduate dental students enrolled for academic year 2017/2018 at the Jordan University of Science and Technology participated in this study. They were given a set of self-administered questionnaires which consisted of questions regarding demographic information, characteristics of smartphone use, assessment of smartphone addiction, sleep quality as well as perceived stress.

RESULTS

The mean Smartphone Addiction Scale (SAS) score amongst Jordanian dental students was high (109.9 ± 23.8). The correlation between SAS and Global Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) score was significant (r = 0.137, P =0.005) indicating that the higher the smartphone addiction level, the poorer the quality of sleep. Similarly, a significant correlation was found between Perceived Stress Scale-10 (PSS-10) score and Global PSQI score (r = 0.348, P < 0.001) which implied that students who have higher perceived stress experienced poorer sleep quality. Year 3 students (clinical year), smartphone addiction and perceived stress were determinants of sleep quality.

CONCLUSIONS

Dental students who have high levels of smartphone addiction or high perceived stress levels experienced poor sleep quality. Identifying smartphone addicts amongst students as well as stressors are imperative measures to allow timely assistance and support in the form of educational campaigns, counselling, psychotherapy and stress management.

Considering cross-cultural differences in sleep duration between Japanese and Canadian university students

Sleep is a fundamental biological process that all humans exhibit, and there is much evidence that people suffer adverse health outcomes from insufficient sleep. Despite this evidence, much research demonstrates significant heterogeneity in the amounts that people sleep across cultures. This suggests that despite serving fundamental biological functions, sleep is also subject to cultural influence. Using self-report and actigraphy data we examined sleep among European Canadian, Asian Canadian, and Japanese university students. Significant cultural differences emerged in terms of various parameters of sleep (e.g. sleep time), and beliefs about sleep (e.g. perceived relation between sleep and health). Despite sleeping significantly less than European Canadians, Japanese participants slept less efficiently, yet reported being less tired and having better health. Moreover, relative to European Canadians, Japanese participants perceived a weaker relation between sleep and physical health, and had a significantly shorter ideal amount of sleep. Asian Canadians’ sleep behaviors and attitudes were largely similar to European Canadians suggesting that people acculturate to local cultural sleep norms.

Mediating Effect of Perceived Stress on the Association between Physical Activity and Sleep Quality among Chinese College Students

BACKGROUND

While physical activity has been reported to positively affect stress and sleep quality, less is known about the potential relationships among them. The present study aimed to investigate the mediating effect of stress on the association between physical activity and sleep quality in Chinese college students, after controlling for age, nationality, and tobacco and alcohol use.

PARTICIPANTS

The sample comprised 6973 college students representing three Chinese universities.

METHODS

Physical activity, perceived stress, and sleep quality were respectively measured using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-SF), Perceived Stress Scale-10 Items (PSS-10), and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI).

RESULTS

Mediating effects of perceived stress on the association between physical activity and sleep quality were observed in males and females, with 42.4% (partial mediating effect) and 306.3% (complete mediating effect) as percentages of mediation, respectively.

CONCLUSION

The results of this study may provide some suggestions that physical activity could improve sleep by aiding individuals in coping with stress and indicate that stress management might be an effective non-pharmaceutical therapy for sleep improvement.