Sleep Quality and Its Associated Factors: A Comparative Study of Undergraduate Students of the University of Port-Harcourt

Authors

Keywords:

Sleep Quality, Students, Sleep, Substance-Related Disorders, Sleep Hygiene

Abstract

Background:

Sleep quality is a critical determinant of health and academic success, yet university students remain at high risk for sleep disturbances. In resource-limited settings like Nigeria, students navigate unique infrastructural and socio-economic stressors that may exacerbate poor sleep architecture.

Aim:

To determine the prevalence of poor sleep quality and its association with sociodemographic factors, academic workload, sleep environment, electronic use, stress, physical activity, and substance use.

Methods:

A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 424 undergraduates selected via a multistage sampling technique across four faculties. Participants were chosen using a computer-generated random number sequence based on official class lists to minimise selection bias. Sleep quality was assessed using the validated Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), alongside a structured questionnaire evaluating lifestyle and academic variables. A global score >5 was defined as poor sleep quality. Data were analysed using SPSS version 31, with statistical significance set at p < 0.05.

Results:

The prevalence of poor sleep quality (Global PSQI >5) was 58.02% (n = 246), with a mean global score of 6.36 ± 3.47. Component analysis identified sleep disturbances (M = 1.32) and prolonged sleep latency (M = 1.07) as the most significant issues. Statistically significant associations with poor sleep were found for employment status (p = 0.002), perceived stress levels (p = 0.003), and recreational drug use (p = 0.009), while other variables, such as academic workload and environmental factors like room lighting and screen time, had no significant associations.

Conclusion:

Poor sleep quality is highly prevalent among undergraduates at the University of Port-Harcourt. Stress, employment, and recreational drug use significantly influence sleep outcomes. Institutional interventions promoting stress reduction, health education, and substance use prevention are recommended to improve students’ sleep hygiene, mental well-being, and academic performance.

References

REFERENCES

1. Medic G, Wille M, Hemels ME. Short- and long-term health consequences of sleep disruption. Nat Sci Sleep. 2017;9:61-151.

2. Colten HR, Altevogt BM, editors. Sleep disorders and sleep deprivation: an unmet public health problem. Washington (DC): National Academies Press; 2006.

3. Irwin MR. Why sleep is important for health: a psychoneuroimmunology perspective. Annu Rev Psychol. 2015;66:72-143.

4. Hirshkowitz M, Whiton K, Albert SM, Alessi C, Bruni O, DonCarlos L, et al. National Sleep Foundation’s sleep time duration recommendations: methodology and results summary. Sleep Health. 2015;1(1):40-3.

5. Lund HG, Reider BD, Whiting AB, Prichard JR. Sleep patterns and predictors of disturbed sleep in a large population of college students. J Adolesc Health. 2010;46(2):124-32.

6. Pilcher JJ, Walters AS. How sleep deprivation affects psychological variables related to college students' cognitive performance. J Am Coll Health. 1997;46(3):121-6.

7. Beattie L, Kyle SD, Espie CA, Biello SM. Social interactions, emotion regulation, and mood during daily life: examining the role of sleep. Sleep Health. 2015;1(2):121-7.

8. El Khatir H, Alhayani M, Raougui M, El Amri A, Moudden N, Belhaj M, et al. Sleep quality among nursing and medical students in Morocco and Spain: a cross-sectional study. Diseases. 2024;12(5):89.

9. Wong ML, Lau EY, Wan JH, Cheung SF, Hui CH, Mok DS. Interplay between sleep and mood in predicting academic, physical, and psychological functioning: a longitudinal study. J Psychosom Res. 2013;74(4):271-7.

10. Okunola O, Olatunji BO, Arulogun OS, Bamidele JO. Sleep quality and academic performance of university students in Nigeria. Sleep Health. 2020;6(6):735-41.

11. Ezenwaji IO, Ohaeri B, Eseadi C, et al. Correlates of sleep quality and sleep hygiene among Nigerian undergraduates. Sleep Health. 2019;5(6):659-65.

12. James BO, Omoaregba JO, Igberase OO. Prevalence and correlates of poor sleep quality among medical students at a Nigerian university. Ann Niger Med. 2011;5(1):1-5.

13. Aderinto N, Olatunji G, Afolabi S, Oludare D, Olanipekun T. Sleep patterns and quality among Nigerian medical students. Medicine (Baltimore). 2024;103(12):e37556.

14. Beachy KA, Moore C, Smith M. Effects of part-time work on sleep quality in college students [poster]. Richmond (VA): Virginia Commonwealth University; 2021. Available from: https://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/uresposters/137/

15. Schmickler JM, Blaschke S, Robbins R, Mess F. Determinants of sleep quality in university students. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023;20(3):2019.

16. Nakitto B, Nansubuga F, Omondi E, Opedo M, Bongomin F. Comparative analysis of sleep quality between medical and nonmedical students in Uganda. J Public Health Prim Care. 2024;5(3):28-122.

17. Seun-Fadipe CT, Mosaku KS. Sleep quality and psychological distress in Nigerian students. Sleep Health. 2017;3(2):190-4.

18. Buysse DJ, Reynolds CF, Monk TH, Berman SR, Kupfer DJ. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index: a new instrument for psychiatric practice and research. Psychiatry Res. 1989;28(2):193-213.

19. Aloba OO, Adewuya AO, Ola BA, Mapayi BM. Validity of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) among Nigerian university students. Afr J Psychiatry (Johannesbg). 2007;10(4):219-23.

20. Carpi M, Cianfarani C, Vestri A, Di Martino V, Profeta G, Capozzi G, et al. Sleep quality and health-related quality of life in university students. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022;19(3):1279.

21. Li W, Yu H, Wang J, Yang X, Yang Z. Sleep duration and quality and depressive symptoms in Chinese students. PLoS One. 2020;15(6):e0238811.

22. Salama AA. Sleep quality in Egyptian medical students. Egypt Fam Med J. 2017;1(1):1-21.

23. Amaral KV, Santos PF. Sleep quality and work among nursing vocational students. Rev Bras Enferm. 2021;74(6):e20201285.

Downloads

Published

2026-08-18

How to Cite

Alabintei, N., Ajoku, E., & Akpan, A. (2026). Sleep Quality and Its Associated Factors: A Comparative Study of Undergraduate Students of the University of Port-Harcourt. International Journal of Medical Students. Retrieved from https://ijms.pitt.edu/IJMS/article/view/4718

Issue

Forthcoming

Section

Abstracts of the WCMSR

Categories

License

Copyright (c) 2026 Ndutimi Alabintei, Ebubechukwu Ajoku, Abigail Akpan

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

  1. The Author retains copyright in the Work, where the term “Work” shall include all digital objects that may result in subsequent electronic publication or distribution.
  2. Upon acceptance of the Work, the author shall grant to the Publisher the right of first publication of the Work.
  3. The Author shall grant to the Publisher and its agents the nonexclusive perpetual right and license to publish, archive, and make accessible the Work in whole or in part in all forms of media now or hereafter known under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License or its equivalent, which, for the avoidance of doubt, allows others to copy, distribute, and transmit the Work under the following conditions:
    1. Attribution—other users must attribute the Work in the manner specified by the author as indicated on the journal Web site; with the understanding that the above condition can be waived with permission from the Author and that where the Work or any of its elements is in the public domain under applicable law, that status is in no way affected by the license.
    2. The Author is able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the nonexclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the Work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), as long as there is provided in the document an acknowledgment of its initial publication in this journal.
    3. Authors are permitted and encouraged to post online a prepublication manuscript (but not the Publisher’s final formatted PDF version of the Work) in institutional repositories or on their Websites prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work. Any such posting made before acceptance and publication of the Work shall be updated upon publication to include a reference to the Publisher-assigned DOI (Digital Object Identifier) and a link to the online abstract for the final published Work in the Journal.
    4. Upon Publisher’s request, the Author agrees to furnish promptly to Publisher, at the Author’s own expense, written evidence of the permissions, licenses, and consents for use of third-party material included within the Work, except as determined by Publisher to be covered by the principles of Fair Use.
    5. The Author represents and warrants that:
      1. the Work is the Author’s original work;
      2. the Author has not transferred, and will not transfer, exclusive rights in the Work to any third party;
      3. the Work is not pending review or under consideration by another publisher;
      4. the Work has not previously been published;
      5. the Work contains no misrepresentation or infringement of the Work or property of other authors or third parties; and
      6. the Work contains no libel, invasion of privacy, or other unlawful matter.
    6. The Author agrees to indemnify and hold Publisher harmless from the Author’s breach of the representations and warranties contained in Paragraph 6 above, as well as any claim or proceeding relating to Publisher’s use and publication of any content contained in the Work, including third-party content.

Enforcement of copyright

The IJMS takes the protection of copyright very seriously.

If the IJMS discovers that you have used its copyright materials in contravention of the license above, the IJMS may bring legal proceedings against you seeking reparation and an injunction to stop you using those materials. You could also be ordered to pay legal costs.

If you become aware of any use of the IJMS' copyright materials that contravenes or may contravene the license above, please report this by email to contact@ijms.org

 

Infringing material

If you become aware of any material on the website that you believe infringes your or any other person's copyright, please report this by email to contact@ijms.org