Correlation between Psychological Stress and Sleep amongst Medical, Dental and Allied Sciences Students

Abstract

Background: Students in healthcare sector face high levels of academic tension and peer pressure to keep up with their studies and pass their professional university examinations. Stress, poor sleep, and academic performance are all linked to form a vicious circle.

Objective: To determine the pattern of sleep value and prevalence of stress in second year students of a higher educational institution.

Methods: This cross-sectional survey was done among second year medical, dental, and allied health sciences students. A semi structured questionnaire was prepared to perform the study. The evaluation of sleep pattern was done through Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and stress through k10 (Kessler Psychological Distress) Scale. Chi square test, bivariate logistic analysis and linear regression were used to analyse the association between sleep quality and stress.

Results: A total of 313 students were recruited in the study. PSQI scores revealed that 75.1% of the participants were poor sleepers. Bivariate logistic regression showed that determinants college, caffeinated drinks, presence of chronic disease and napping hours were substantially associated with poor sleep quality. Logistic regression showed that determinants gender was significantly associated with stress. The association of PSQI and k10 were confirmed with chi square, linear regression and logistic regression and was significant at p<0.01.

Conclusion: Low Sleep quality and stress is highly dominant in medical, dental and para medical students and were associated with each other. More studies are needed to help students to overcome the stress.

International Journal of Human and Health Sciences Vol. 07 No. 04 Oct’23 Page: 327-337