Factors Affecting Sleep Quality among Nursing Students at the Faculty of Nursing at King Abdulaziz University: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Context: Sleep is a basic human requirement. Sleep quality varies from one person to another due to multiple factors, including environmental, biological, psychological, and social factors.

Aim: This study aims to assess factors affecting sleep quality among nursing students at the Faculty of Nursing at King Abdulaziz University.

Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive design was used. This study was conducted at the Faculty of Nursing, King Abdulaziz University (KAU), using a convenience sample of 217 nursing students. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and a questionnaire assessing factors affecting sleep quality were utilized.

Results: The average nursing student's total score of PSQI was 5.04±3.63, which was affected by several statistically significant factors such as academic year (p=0.002), gender (p=0.005), snoring while sleeping (p=0.018), noisy bedroom (p=0.038), uncomfortable bed or pillow (p=0.004), uncomfortable room lighting while sleeping (p=0.022), financial stress (p=0.000), social pressure (p=0.000), psychological stress (p=0.000), study loads and heavy homework (p=0.000), living away from family member (p=0.000). Smoking late in the day (p=0.000), taking a long nap during the day (p=0.000), thinking of the next day's engagements before bed (p=0.000), using bed for non-sleep related activities (p=0.004), studying or working intensively until late at night (p=0.000), eating fatty foods before bed (p=0.041), and no consistent bedtime routine (p=0.000) were among the statically significant factors that affect the sleep of nursing students at Faculty of Nursing, King Abdulaziz University.

Conclusion: The sleep quality of nursing students was low, and it is influenced by demographic, biological, environmental, psychosocial, and behavioral factors. The study recommends educating nursing students about the effects of poor sleep and sleep-enhancing strategies, in conjunction with academic counseling to improve study skills, stress management, and time management, thereby fostering a healthier academic environment.