sleep hygiene

Chronobiology studies indicate that individuals are regulated by three timers: social, solar, and biological. Environmental and behavioral changes can modify the sleep–wake cycle. Many university students adopt nighttime study habits, interfering with the circadian rhythm. Sleep restriction or poor sleep quality compromises memory and significantly reduces academic performance. This study aimed to verify whether there is an association between sleep quality and academic performance among nursing and medical students at a public university in Alagoas, Brazil. This is an observational, cross-sectional, and quantitative study conducted with 137 Nursing and Medical students, selected through stratified probabilistic sampling. Data collection included a sociodemographic questionnaire to characterize the sample, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), the Munich Chronotype Questionnaire (MCTQ), and academic self-assessment. Data were analyzed for normality, and associations were tested using Pearson and Spearman correlations (SciPy – Python). Among the 137 students, 65.7% were women, 70.1% were between 19 and 24 years old, 67.9% rated their academic performance between 7.0 and 8.9, and 66.4% presented poor sleep quality. Negative correlations between the PSQI and self-assessment variables (r = -0.368; p < 0.001 for Pearson; r = -0.360; p < 0.001 for Spearman) reinforce the importance of sleep quality in the academic context. The findings highlight the urgency of interventions that promote sleep hygiene education and strategies to improve rest quality, reducing the likelihood of problems that may negatively impact students’ academic performance.

Background: Insomnia is an important public health concern and may be particularly relevant among security personnel because of irregular work schedules, occupational demands, sustained vigilance, and inadequate rest. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of insomnia and its association with selected sociodemographic and health-related factors among security personnel in a tertiary care government hospital in south India. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 100 security personnel. Sociodemographic characteristics, including age, gender, income, education, and marital status, and health-related characteristics, including body mass index, diabetes, and hypertension, were assessed using a structured questionnaire. Insomnia was assessed using the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI). Associations between insomnia and selected variables were examined using the chi-square test. Results: Sub-threshold insomnia was present in 32% of participants, while no cases of moderate or severe insomnia were identified. Significant associations were observed between insomnia and gender (p=0.019) and income level (p=0.020). No significant associations were observed with age, education, marital status, or metabolic health status. Self-reported Diabetes and Hypertension were present in 10% and 4% of participants, respectively, while 74% were classified as obese. Conclusions: Although moderate or severe insomnia was not observed, nearly one-third of security personnel had sub-threshold insomnia. Workplace-based sleep hygiene interventions may be beneficial, particularly among women and lower-income employees. Further studies incorporating objective sleep assessments and detailed evaluation of shift schedules are warranted.

Background Insomnia and poor sleep are highly prevalent among university students and are linked to impaired mental and physical health, reduced cognitive functioning, and lower academic performance. Existing interventions for insomnia include cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia (CBT-I), mindfulness, and sleep hygiene. CBT-I is widely recognised as effective but remains difficult to access for the general population and lack scalability, long-term follow-up, and feasibility in non-clinical settings. Pragmatic, group-based approaches that can be delivered within the university and are tailored to help students develop self-endorsed routines and competencies for better sleep, creating sustainable changes that extend beyond the program period, is needed. Methods This study is a pragmatic, two-arm randomised controlled trial evaluating the effectiveness of a group-based sleep program for university students with insomnia symptoms. A total of 118 full-time students aged 18–30 meeting diagnostic criteria for chronic insomnia disorder will be randomized (1:1) to either the intervention or a wait-list control group. The intervention comprises 12 weekly 90-minute group sessions followed by nine monthly follow-up meetings, facilitated by trained coaches. The program integrates core elements of CBT-I with motivational and coping strategies, delivered in an interactive and peer-supported format. The primary outcome is change in insomnia severity measured by the Bergen Insomnia Scale. Secondary outcomes include subjective and objective sleep measures, mental health, cognitive performance, academic attainment, health behaviours, physical fitness, and biological markers. Assessments will be conducted at baseline, post-program (12 weeks), and 12 months. A mixed methods process evaluation will assess fidelity, acceptability, mechanisms of impact, and contextual influences. Discussion This trial will be among the first pragmatic evaluations of a structured, group-based sleep intervention tailored to university students with insomnia. Key strengths include the randomised controlled design, comprehensive outcome assessment, 12-month follow-up, and embedded process evaluation. If effective, the program could provide a feasible, scalable, and cost-effective model to improve sleep and therein health, and academic performance in young adults in higher education.

Aim and background: Sleep is a biological necessity essential for physical and mental well-being, yet many young adults, particularly college students, experience sleep disruptions due to major life changes and poor sleep hygiene.This study aimed to identify the determinants of insomnia among undergraduate female students in a rural area of Haryana.Materials and methods: A mixed-method study was conducted between May 2024 and May 2025 involving 340 undergraduate female students.Quantitative data were collected using a semi-structured socio-demographic questionnaire and the insomnia severity index (ISI).Qualitative insights were gathered through in-depth interviews (IDI) with 15 students identified with clinically significant insomnia.Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software version 26, with significance set at p < 0.05.Results: The prevalence of clinically significant insomnia in the cohort was 5.6% (n = 19).Quantitative analysis revealed that the participant's state of origin was the only statistically significant socio-demographic determinant (p = 0.031).Students from states other than Haryana reported a significantly higher insomnia prevalence (12.5%) compared to those from Haryana (4.2%).Factors such as age, socio-economic status, and type of occupancy showed no significant correlation.Qualitative themes highlighted academic performance, overuse of electronic devices, social environment, and psycho-social stress as primary triggers.Conclusion: While the prevalence of insomnia is relatively low, it is significantly driven by academic transitions, excessive screen time, and communal living challenges.A notable awareness-action gap exists, as students recognize the importance of sleep but prefer self-management or mindfulness over professional clinical help.

Aim and background: Excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) is reported far less often than poor nocturnal sleep quality in Indian medical students.We aimed to estimate EDS prevalence and its independent correlates (primary), and to compare these with poor sleep quality correlates in the same cohort and relate both to examination performance (secondary).We hypothesized that sleep hygiene behavior, not global sleep quality category, would dominate.Materials and methods: Prospective cross-sectional study of 354 of 450 eligible MBBS students (78.7%) at a Southern Indian college, sampled by stratified proportional randomization.Under supervised standardized administration, they completed the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS; EDS >10), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and Sleep Hygiene Index (SHI), with screen time, stress, mood, lifestyle, clinical covariates, and the latest university examination percentage.Excessive daytime sleepiness correlates were examined by logistic regression with a pre-specified confounder-adjusted sensitivity model.Results: Excessive daytime sleepiness affected 21.5% [95% confidence interval (CI) 17.5-26.0],more often among poor than good sleepers (27.7% vs 18.6%).Adjusted [area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) 0.773, 0.714-0.832],only poorer sleep hygiene remained independent [odds ratio (OR) 1.12 per point, 1.07-1.18],unchanged after adjustment for all measured confounders (1.12, 1.06-1.17).Examination percentage did not differ by sleep status (67.33 ± 5.16 vs 68.07 ± 5.72; p = 0.229); academic stage and sex, not sleep, predicted marks (R² = 0.152).Conclusion: In this cross-sectional sample, EDS was associated more closely with sleep hygiene behavior than with global sleep quality category, and the two had distinct correlation profiles.Screening for sleepiness alongside sleep quality, and addressing bedtime device use, merit consideration in student health services.These are associations only; no direction of effect can be inferred.Clinical significance: Measuring EDS alongside global sleep quality identifies a partly distinct at-risk group, for whom brief counselling on bedtime device use may be more specific than generic sleep hygiene advice.

Aims and background: The sleep-wake cycle and sleep consolidation are essential to children's growth and development.There is a paucity of studies on the sleep characteristics and the effect of electronic media on them in healthy Indian infants and toddlers.The objectives were to assess the sleep characteristics of healthy Indian infants and toddlers and to examine the impact of electronic media on them.Materials and methods: This was a cross-sectional study at a tertiary center in India, among healthy children aged 3-36 months.Those with concurrent illness (e.g., gastroenteritis, respiratory illness) were excluded.A Hindi version of the Revised Brief Infant Sleep Questionnaire (BISQ-R) was used to assess sleep patterns.Results: A total of 100 children were enrolled during the study period; their median (IQR) age was 12.1 (3.5, 18) months, with most of them being males (74%).The median (IQR) total sleep duration was 11 (10.0,13.3) hours.Electronic media exposure was noted in 83 (83%) children.Of them, 27 (32.5%)children were exposed to ≥1 hour/day.There was no significant difference in sleep duration, night awakenings, or wakefulness between media-exposed and media-unexposed groups in children.Similarly, there was no significant effect of media exposure on sleep characteristics.Conclusion: Sleep duration in infants and toddlers was below the international recommendation.A majority of children had exposure to electronic media, and one-third had exposure of at least 1 hour.Approximately three-fourths of parents didn't perceive the child's sleep problems.Clinical significance: There is an urgent need to routinely evaluate sleep characteristics in infants and toddlers and to increase awareness of sleep hygiene and media exposure among parents.