Poor sleep quality during COVID-19 pandemic restrictions associated with reduced psychological wellbeing in healthcare students
Journal article
D’orsogna, Tommaso, Halson, Shona L. and Oehmen, Raoul. (2023). Poor sleep quality during COVID-19 pandemic restrictions associated with reduced psychological wellbeing in healthcare students. Chronobiology International. 40(4), pp. 438-449. https://doi.org/10.1080/07420528.2023.2186127
Authors | D’orsogna, Tommaso, Halson, Shona L. and Oehmen, Raoul |
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Abstract | Sleep is inexorably linked to both physiological and psychological wellbeing. Restrictions imposed to control the COVID-19 pandemic likely impacted upon daily and weekly routines, which can have a negative impact on a range of factors including sleep quality, and/or quantity and general wellbeing. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of COVID-19 related restrictions on sleep patterns and psychological wellbeing of healthcare students. A survey was delivered to healthcare students across three faculties at a single institution. Participants completed questionnaires on the effect of COVID-19 restrictions on course delivery and clinical placements, its effect on sleep-wake times, sleep quality, sleep hygiene, psychological wellbeing, their current sleep knowledge and sleep education in their current course. Using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), over 75% of participants were found to have poor sleep quality. Changes in sleep habits and sleep behaviours during COVID-19 restrictions were associated with poorer sleep quality, and this poor sleep quality was associated with poor psychological wellbeing, particularly, motivation, stress and fatigue. Increases in negative sleep hygiene behaviours were associated with a statistically significant increase in PSQI global score. Positive emotions were positively correlated with PSQI (r = 0.22–0.24, p < .001), negative emotions were negatively correlated with PSQI (r = −0.22 - −0.31, p < .001). Also, a self-perceived lack of sleep education was identified. This study illustrates the negative association between self-reported poor sleep behaviour and poor sleep quality during COVID-19 restrictions on university student mental health and wellbeing. Additionally, there is a self-perceived lack of sleep education with little to no time spent educating students in their current degree. Hence, appropriate sleep education may improve sleep behaviours and subsequent sleep quality, which may prove to be a protective factor against poor mental health in the face of unexpected changes to routines. |
Keywords | COVID-19; sleep; university students; mental health; wellbeing |
Year | 2023 |
Journal | Chronobiology International |
Journal citation | 40 (4), pp. 438-449 |
Publisher | Taylor & Francis |
ISSN | 0742-0528 |
Digital Object Identifier (DOI) | https://doi.org/10.1080/07420528.2023.2186127 |
PubMed ID | 36883343 |
Scopus EID | 2-s2.0-85150530511 |
Open access | Published as ‘gold’ (paid) open access |
Page range | 438-449 |
Publisher's version | License File Access Level Open |
Output status | Published |
Publication dates | |
Online | 08 Mar 2023 |
Publication process dates | |
Accepted | 26 Feb 2023 |
Deposited | 28 Apr 2025 |
Additional information | © 2023 The Author(s). Published with license by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/), which permits non-commercial re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited, and is not altered, transformed, or built upon in any way. |
https://acuresearchbank.acu.edu.au/item/91qvy/poor-sleep-quality-during-covid-19-pandemic-restrictions-associated-with-reduced-psychological-wellbeing-in-healthcare-students
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Publisher's version
OA_Dorsogna_2023_Poor_sleep_quality_during_COVID_19.pdf | |
License: CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 | |
File access level: Open |
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