The quality of sleep in high school urban students

Abstract

Introduction: A good sleep quality in high school students is crucial, because this represents the basis of mental and physical health and the premise of good school performance. Difficulties in falling asleep and maintaining sleep are reported with a relatively high frequency in epidemiological studies, estimated to affect 15-35% of the adult population [1,2]. Adolescence sleeping problems are thought to be due to late melatonin secretion and bad sleep habits, especially in the urban population [3]. Purpose: To assess the sleep habits and the activities before sleep, as well as the sleep quality of high school urban students. Material and methods: An anonymous online questioning during January-March 2020 of 118 high school students (grades 10-12), male to female ratio 1:2.6, from 7 lyceums of Chisinau and Balti, included: questions regarding sleep habits and the activities before sleep, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) [4,5]. Results: The mean time of actual sleep was 6.5±0.9 hours, 41.5% slept less than 7 hours per day, and 98.3% went to bed after 10.00 PM (Figure 1). Sleep quality during the past month (Figure 2) was assessed by the responders as “ “fairly bad” in 38.1% (45/118), and “very bad” in 5.9%. The mean PSQI score (Table 1) was 7.2±0.5, and the prevalence of “poor” sleepers (PSQI score >5) was 69.5% (82/118). The mean ESS was 6.9±0.6, but in 84.7% (100/118) of participants was registered higher normal daytime sleepiness (6- 10 points). Conclusions: More than a third of urban high school students slept less than 7 hours a day and every second had some evening habits and activities that negatively influenced the quality and quantity of sleep.