Preprint Article Version 1 Preserved in Portico This version is not peer-reviewed

Sleep Quality and Fatigue During Exam Periods in University Students: Prevalence and Associated Factors

Izolde Bouloukaki
* ORCID logo ,
Ioanna Tsiligianni
,
Georgios Stathakis
,
Michail Fanaridis
ORCID logo ,
Athina Koloi
,
Ekaterini Bakiri
,
Maria Moudatsaki
,
Eleni Pouladaki
,
Sophia Schiza
Version 1 : Received: 20 June 2023 / Approved: 21 June 2023 / Online: 21 June 2023 (11:40:44 CEST)

A peer-reviewed article of this Preprint also exists.

Bouloukaki, I.; Tsiligianni, I.; Stathakis, G.; Fanaridis, M.; Koloi, A.; Bakiri, E.; Moudatsaki, M.; Pouladaki, E.; Schiza, S. Sleep Quality and Fatigue during Exam Periods in University Students: Prevalence and Associated Factors. Healthcare 2023, 11, 2389. Bouloukaki, I.; Tsiligianni, I.; Stathakis, G.; Fanaridis, M.; Koloi, A.; Bakiri, E.; Moudatsaki, M.; Pouladaki, E.; Schiza, S. Sleep Quality and Fatigue during Exam Periods in University Students: Prevalence and Associated Factors. Healthcare 2023, 11, 2389.

Abstract

The aim of our study was to assess university students’ sleep quality and fatigue before and during the academic exam period and identify potential associated factors. A Web-based survey was completed by 940 students of 20 different Tertiary Institutions including demographics, sleep habits, exercise, caffeine, tobacco, alcohol use, subjective sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index - PSQI) and fatigue (Fatigue severity scale – FSS) at the beginning of semester and at examination period. During exam period, PSQI (8.9 vs 6.1, p<0.001) and FSS scores (36.9 vs 32.7, p<0.001) were significantly elevated compared to pre-exam period. Increase of PSQI score was associated with age (β=0.111, p=0.011), presence of chronic disease (β=0.914, p=0.006), and depressive symptoms (β=0.459, p=0.001). Increase of FSS score was associated with female gender (β=1.658, p<0.001), age, (β=0.198, p=0.010), increase in smoking (β=1.7, p=0.029), coffee/energy drinks consumption (β=1.988, p<0.001), decreased levels of physical exercise (β=1.660, p<0.001), and depressive symptoms (β=2.526, p<0.001). In conclusion, our results show that sleep quality and fatigue are affected in university students during exam periods. Potential factors were identified which may lead to development of strategies for better quality of sleep, and wellbeing.

Keywords

sleep quality; fatigue; university students; exam period

Subject

Public Health and Healthcare, Primary Health Care

Copyright: This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

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