Sleep Quality and its Relationship with Academic Performance in College Students of Different Shifts

Abstract

The correlation between the sleepiness levels, sleep quality and academic performance of collegians was analyzed. The sample (age mean: 24 years old, SD = 8,09) was constituted of 109 students of the morning shift and 125 of the nocturnal. They completed a demographic characteristics and sleep questionnaires, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale. Their grade index also was requested to the courses coordinators. The results showed in sleepiness mean of 9,03 (SD = 4,01) points in the morning shift and 9,7 (SD = 4,01) in the nocturnal, and in sleep quality, 5,54 (SD = 2,99) and 5,53 (SD = 3,08) respectively. There were significant differences in sleepiness (t = -29,55; p < 0,05) and sleep quality (t = -19,82; p < 0,05) between the shifts. There was no correlation between performance and sleep quality the morning shift (r = -0,05; p > 0,05) and in the nocturnal (r = 0,03; p > 0,05). The dates showed that the students of the nocturnal shift are long sleepers and have a worse sleep quality, however this don’t influence their academic performance.