The relationship of sleep duration with academic performance and depression in a sample of Lebanese University students : a correlational study

Abstract

Upon entering university, students can often experience many difficulties and complaints. Some of them include low mood, unsatisfactory sleep as well as poor academic performance. The aim of this study is to examine the prevalence of insufficient sleep and the relationship between academic performance, insufficient sleep and depression. This study was measured using a correlative descriptive design. Questions on academic performance, the Beck Depression Inventory (II) and actigraphy were used to measure academic performance, depression level, and sleep duration respectively. The Holland Sleep Disorder Questionnaire (HSDQ) was used to screen for sleep disorders. Convenience sampling was used. The sample consisted of 60 university students in Lebanon. Results showed several relationships among the variables. There were negative correlations between sleep duration and BDI scores, and GPA and BDI scores. Moreover, GPA and sleep duration were both able to predict BDI scores. Thus, as GPA increases BDI decreases, and as sleep duration increases BDI score decreases as well. BDI was also able to predict GPA scores. However, there appeared to be no relationship between sleep duration and GPA scores. The study showed that inadequate sleep predicted higher levels of depression in the sample of university students and that students with depression also predicted poorer academic performance and vice versa. Findings from this study highlight the importance of sleep and the necessity of awareness programs on sleep hygiene for university students in order to improve their quality of life in terms of mood.