Sleep deprivation could affect students' academic results

May 15 2008

A study by an American psychologist has found that many college students have sleep patterns that could have an adverse affects on their academic performance.

The study by LeAnne Forquer from Delta State University in Missouri, surveyed more than 300 college students on their sleeping habits.

Many of the students, who included freshmen through to graduates, revealed that it often took them a long time to fall asleep and many also woke more than once a night for at least five nights a week; one third took more than 30 minutes to fall asleep and 43 percent woke more than once a night.

The students also had later bed times and wake times on weekends compared to weekdays, which disrupted the circadian rhythm - the 24-hour day-night cycle that influences quantity and quality of sleep.

A stable circadian rhythm guarantees a better quality of sleep and this is helped if bed and wake times are about the same every day of the week, including weekends.

The study indicates that many college students have sleep patterns that could have detrimental effects on their daily performance.

The suspicion that college students are among the most sleep-deprived age group is a concern because sleep deprivation can have detrimental effects on daily performance, including academic results, driving vehicles and has also been linked to depressed mood and behavioural problems.

Forquer says such issues are extremely important because not getting enough sleep is associated with impaired attention, school performance, and also can lead to driving accidents as people fall asleep behind the wheel of their car.

She says helping students sleep better will hopefully also help them in some of these areas as well.

Forquer is keen for sleep issues to be included in courses aimed at helping student' transition into college life in order to help them understand the consequences of staying up too late and not getting enough sleep.

The study is published in the Journal of American College Health.