Sleep Wake Patterns and Academic Performance in University Students of Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Purpose: University students have their day preferences (morningness or eveningness) and also different sleep patterns. The purpose of the current study was to assess the correlation between sleep, wake pattern and academic performance in Saudi university students. Materials and Methods: The survey included 268 university students aged 18–25 years. Sleep-wake pattern was assessed using Sleep-Wake Pattern Assessment questionnaire. The domains measured were morning lateness (M), evening lateness (E), nighttime sleep ability (S), anytime sleep ability (F), and anytime wake ability (W). Results: The majority of the students (82%) reported evening lateness. The strong negative correlation was observed between eveningness and academic performance (r=−0.7). Morningness and quality of nighttime sleep were positively correlated with academic grades (r=0.12; (r=0.18) and the other correlations between grades and ability to awake or fall asleep at unusual hours (scales W and F) did not gain significance (r=0.0). An independent t-test showed significant differences between male and female students in morningness scores while the other scales proved no significant deviation in relation to gender. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that eveningness is more common among Saudi University students leading to inadequate academic functioning.