Le sommeil des étudiants français en période de COVID-19 : Influence des deux premiers confinements sur la quantité et la qualité de sommeil

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in two periods of confinement during the year 2020 that led to changes in lifestyle patterns. The purpose of our study was to assess the impact of the lockdowns on the quantity (i.e., schedule and time in bed) and quality (i.e., difficulties and parasomnias) of sleep in French college students. During the first and second lockdowns, students were asked to answer an online questionnaire consisting of 23 questions. This questionnaire gathered information on the real and ideal schedules of getting up and going to bed, the time in bed, as well as the parasomnias and difficulties related to sleep (difficulties in falling asleep, waking up, lack of sleep feeling). The results showed that students slept later and spent more time in bed on week-ends than during the week, with these effects being more pronounced during the first confinement than during the second. The majority of students reported poor sleep quality, difficulty falling asleep, early awakening, and a feeling of sleep deprivation. The most common parasomnias were episodes of nightmares and sleepiness. Sleep difficulties and reported parasomnias were greater during the second confinement than during the first. Sleep debt, was still present during the lockdowns. The reported sleep difficulties and parasomnias reflect poor sleep quality, despite the reduction in social constraints. Explanatory hypotheses as well as prevention perspectives regarding sleep hygiene were considered.