Hours of sleep and associated factors in college students during the COVID-19 pandemic

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Leite, Carla Cesar Fontes^a | Coutinho, Milena Oliveira^a | Fernandes, Denise Vasconcelos^a | Souza, Luiz Humberto Rodrigues^b | Costa, Laura Emmanuela Lima^c | Santos, Klaus Araújo^c | dos Santos, Rafaela Gomes^d | das Mercês, Magno Conceição^a | Figueiredo, Maria Aparecida Araújo^a | Cavalcante Neto, Jorge Lopes^{a; c; *}

Affiliations: [a] Department of Life Sciences, State University of Bahia, Salvador, Brazil | [b] Department of Education, State University of Bahia, Guanambi, Brazil | [c] Department of Human Sciences, State University of Bahia, Jacobina, Brazil | [d] Department of Education, State University of Bahia, Teixeira de Freitas, Brazil

Correspondence: [*] Address for correspondence: Jorge Lopes Cavalcante Neto, J.J. Seabra street, 158, Estação, Jacobina 44700000, Bahia, Brazil. E-mail: jlcavalcante@uneb.br.

Abstract: BACKGROUND:Sleep alterations are common in college students, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. Sociodemographic factors may predict these alterations in this population. OBJECTIVE:To identify the sociodemographic factors and health characteristics associated with the number of hours of sleep of college students during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS:This was a cross-sectional study carried out with 244 university students from a multicampi public university in the State of Bahia, Northeast Brazil. Data collection was performed online and participants answered a specific questionnaire to assess sleep hours, sociodemographic and health variables. RESULTS:Significant associations were observed between hours of sleep and older students (odds ratio adjusted –ORaj: 3.75; 95% Confidence Interval –CI: 1.81–7.75; p < 0.01), attending the final semesters (ORaj: 1.85; 95% CI: 1.05–3.25; p < 0.03), and who reported having some disease (ORaj: 2.18; 95% CI: 1.05–4.50; p < 0.03) with greater chances of getting less sleep. However, those who used tobacco (ORaj: 0.08; 95% CI: 0.01–0.45; p < 0.001) were likely to have more hours of sleep per night. CONCLUSION:Sleep restriction was common among participating college students, which has likely intensified due to the COVID-19 pandemic and its restrictions. This encourages specific public health actions, contemplating the health and hours of sleep of this population.

Keywords: Psychological stress, sleep quality, health promotion, young adults, student health services, pandemic, public health

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-220648

Journal: Work, vol. 78, no. 3, pp. 559-567, 2024