Exploring the Relationship Between Anxiety Levels and Sleep Quality During the Covid-19 Pandemic; A cross-sectional Survey

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Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has exerted unprecedented stress on global health, with significant implications for mental health and sleep quality. Prior research has established a link between anxiety levels and sleep disturbances, yet the pandemic's full impact on these aspects remains underexplored, particularly among university students. Objective: This study aims to investigate the relationship between anxiety levels and sleep quality among university students during the COVID-19 pandemic, providing insights into the prevalence of sleep-related issues and anxiety and their interconnection. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted at the South City Institute of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation, involving 281 participants aged between 17 and 25 years. Data collection was facilitated through self-administered, online questionnaires, employing the Beck Anxiety Inventory and the Insomnia Severity Index to measure anxiety levels and sleep quality, respectively. The study utilized a convenience sampling technique, with SPSS version 25.0 employed for data analysis, including Pearson correlation tests to examine the relationship between sleep quality and anxiety levels. Results: The study revealed that 82.9% of participants were female, with a significant portion of the population aged between 24 and 26 years. Regarding COVID-19 impact, 23.49% reported being affected by the virus. A majority (44%) reported obtaining 8-10 hours of sleep, while 55.2% exhibited moderate anxiety levels. A notable negative correlation (r = -0.510, p < 0.01) between anxiety levels and sleep quality was identified, indicating that higher anxiety was associated with poorer sleep quality. Conclusion: The findings underscore a significant negative correlation between anxiety levels and sleep quality among university students during the COVID-19 pandemic. These results highlight the necessity for mental health and sleep hygiene interventions aimed at mitigating the adverse effects of pandemics on student populations.