Sleep, Diet, and Academic Success: A Cross-Sectional Study Among Medical Students

Abstract

Aim: Qualitative sleep has multiple effects on human health and even social abilities. However, disruption of sleep or insufficient sleep might have detrimental effects, especially on young people. Insufficient or irregular sleep behaviors have been revealed to have an alleviating effect on academic success. In the present study, it was aimed to examine sleep behaviors associated with academic success, sleep parameters, and diet. Material and Methods: Medicinal faculty students from Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University participated in the study (n=215). General sleep behaviors were examined by Google Forms, designed by the authors. Sleep quality was evaluated via the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and the quality of diet was assessed via the Mediterranean Diet Quality Index (KIDMED). Results: Our results indicated that significant differences were found in Sleep Latency, Sleep Disturbances, and Daytime Dysfunction. According to the Sleep Latency subscale, Term 1 scores were significantly lower than those of Terms 3, 4, and 5 (p<0.05). However, coffee consumption behaviors of Term 2 students were found to be significantly lower compared to Terms 2, 3, and 4 students (p<0.05). Additionally, the coffee consumption of Term 1 students was significantly lower than of Terms 4 and 5 students (p<0.05). The analysis revealed statistically significant negative correlations between the final dissertation scores and sleep latency, KIDMED score, and PSQI scores (p<0.05). Conclusion: Depending on our results, considering regular sleep behaviors and diet, medical students should be informed about sleep quality-associated neurological disorders throughout further years.

Keywords

• sleep quality
• learning
• academic performance
• diet

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