Sleep Patterns of Graduate Healthcare Students: Mental Health, Academic, and Practice Implications

Abstract

This longitudinal, correlational study examined allied healthcare students’ sleep patterns, stress, and anxiety. Seventy-one students completed The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Visual Analog Mood scale (VAS), and Subjective Unit of Distress scale (SUDS). The Global PSQI index was 7.4. Distress was the principal predictor of sleep quality, F (69) = 12.71, p = .001. Personal stressors had the greatest impact on sleep quality (χ2 = 41.72, p = .001). Nontraditional students reported higher distress and daytime dysfunction. Sleep hygiene training is recommended to improve students’ agency and QOL. Study design limits generalization.