Skipping Breakfast is Associated with Shorter Sleep Duration in Medical Students

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5195/ijms.2024.2062

Keywords:

Students Medical, Breakfast, Sleep Quali, Sleep Duration, Lifestyle, Circadian rhythm, Epidemiological study, Cross-sectional study, Health outcomes, Dietary habits, Educational interventions, Behavioral patterns, Sleep disturbances, Neurobehavioral function, Clinical assessment, PSQI, Modifiable factors, Public health, Self-reported data, Sleep

Abstract

Background: Breakfast skipping is common in young adults, including medical students. Poor sleep quality is also common in medical students. Sleep quality and duration are important determinants of health and wellbeing. The aim of the study is to explore the novel association between medical students’ frequency of breakfast consumption with sleep quality and duration.

Methods: Year 3 medical students completed a survey at the end of 2018. Data collection included demographic information, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and breakfast consumption in the month before their end-of-year clinical assessment.

Results: The response rate for the survey was 76.6% (216/282). Forty-five percent of medical students skipped breakfast at least once in an average week and 56.9% of students had poor sleep quality (as defined by PSQI scores > 5). There was a statistically significant association between a higher frequency of breakfast skipping and shorter sleep duration (Kendall’s tau-b, P = 0.012). Regression analysis also showed that breakfast frequency had a statistically significant impact on sleep duration (P = 0.048).

Conclusion: Breakfast skipping is common in medical students. Furthermore, breakfast skipping is significantly associated with a shorter sleep duration. This knowledge could empower medical students to optimize their routines for better sleep and general health.

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References

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The image depicts a tired-looking medical professional, likely a student or resident, resting their head on their hands with a weary expression. Surrounding them are symbols of time and exhaustion: a large clock showing different times, an alarm clock, and a crescent moon indicating nighttime. In front of the person is a plate with a donut and a cup of coffee, suggesting a quick, possibly unhealthy meal. The background includes calming elements like leaves, and a heartbeat line, emphasizing the stress and fatigue associated with demanding medical schedules. The overall color scheme is soft, with shades of blue and green, highlighting a somber and reflective mood.

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Published

2024-06-12 — Updated on 2024-07-09

How to Cite

Bhoopatkar, H., Sharma, S., Moir, F., Nakatsuji, M., Wearn, A., & Falloon, K. (2024). Skipping Breakfast is Associated with Shorter Sleep Duration in Medical Students. International Journal of Medical Students, 12(2), 178–184. https://doi.org/10.5195/ijms.2024.2062

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Vol. 12 No. 2 (2024)

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Copyright (c) 2024 Harsh Bhoopatkar, Shivani Sharma, Fiona Moir, Miriam Nakatsuji, Andrew Wearn, Karen Falloon

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