Source: Introduction Sleep issues are common among univers…
Source: Introduction Sleep issues are common among university students. Around one-third don’t get the recommended 8–10 hours of sleep, and nearly half report poor sleep quality. About 18.5% experience insomnia, which is linked to higher stress and symptoms of depression or anxiety. Poor sleep also relates to lower academic performance. Contributing factors include school workload, jobs, social life, and overall stress—often leading to a cycle where poor sleep and mental health worsen each other. Sleep habits and beliefs are important too. Healthy sleep hygiene—like avoiding screens before bed and keeping a consistent schedule—can improve sleep. In contrast, dysfunctional attitudes, such as excessive worry about not sleeping, may cause more stress and worsen insomnia. This study explored how academic discipline, sleep hygiene, and sleep beliefs relate to mental health and sleep quality in college students. Participants Students from the University of Waterloo and McMaster University in Ontario, Canada, took part in this cross-sectional survey. To join, participants had to be currently enrolled. Recruitment happened through emails, posters, and social media. All participants gave informed consent, and the study was approved by ethics boards at both universities. Method Students completed a survey on demographics, academic background, sleep habits, and mental health. Sleep quality was measured using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Insomnia symptoms were assessed with the Insomnia Severity Index. The Sleep Hygiene Index and Dysfunctional Beliefs and Attitudes about Sleep Scale measured students’ sleep practices and attitudes. Mental health was evaluated using standard tools for stress, anxiety, and depression. Academic disciplines were grouped into Arts, Sciences, Health, and Engineering. Researchers analyzed how these categories related to sleep outcomes and attitudes, first on their own and then while accounting for demographics and mental health. Results and Discussion Out of 1,566 valid responses, most participants were undergraduates and identified as women. Less than half identified as white. About two-thirds were classified as poor sleepers. Students in the Arts reported the worst sleep hygiene, more dysfunctional sleep attitudes, more insomnia, and higher stress, depression, and anxiety compared to other groups. Health students generally reported better sleep and mental health. When controlling for mental health, many discipline-based differences disappeared, suggesting that mental health may explain much of the variation in sleep outcomes. Poor sleep hygiene and dysfunctional beliefs were still strongly associated with worse sleep quality and more severe insomnia. Table 1. Participant demographics (mean or n ) The researchers noted that while understanding sleep’s importance might encourage better habits, many students still struggle due to stress, time demands, or low confidence in their ability to improve sleep. Educational programs focused on sleep hygiene, like “Sleep 101,” have helped students fall asleep faster and develop healthier attitudes about sleep. Although this study relied on self-reported data, its large and diverse sample strengthens the findings. The results suggest that universities should consider offering sleep education and support programs to improve students’ mental health and academic success. Kuhn, T., Karsan, S., Heisz, J. J., & Middleton, L. E. (2024). The differing relationships between academic discipline, sleep hygiene, and dysfunctional sleep attitudes on sleep quality and duration in Canadian university students. Frontiers in Psychology, 15, 1396579.