Running head: SLEEP DEPRIVATION AFFECTING SCHOOL PERFORMANCE

Sleep Deprivation Affecting School Performance in College Students in the US

Jusevanie Jean Baptiste
University of North Florida

SLEEP DEPRIVATION AFFECTING SCHOOL PERFORMANCE

College is a time of experience that provides great values, skills, knowledge and
independence to become someone of social values. However, due to high tuition costs, the cost
of living and many other factors which varies, this experience often comes at a great cost.
Irregular sleep pattern causing sleep deprivation and daytime sleepiness posing obstacles which
decreases the chance of being successful. Sleep deprivation is the condition of being robbed of
sleep as opposed to being unable to sleep, it is a condition that occurs when one does not get
enough sleep. An estimated 50-70 million US adults have sleep or wakefulness disorder (CDC,
2008). Persons experiencing sleep insufficiency are also more likely to have reduced quality of
life and productivity. With sleep insufficiency impacting ones health, consequences such as
safety risks, and problematic cognitive functioning are arising in college students nationally.
There are studies being conducted about why many college students are deprived from so
much sleep, and perform minimally in school; the majority of the reasons were related to campus
and/or dormitory lifestyle due to factors such as noises, lights in rooms, and cell phone
calls/texts. Other reasons are being homesick, working and going to school, financial stress,
excessive homework and studying, lack of time, and more. These daily stressors often lead to
sleep deprivation causing fatigue, which have a significant impact on learning and cognitive
functioning in college students. Many of those students are at a high risk of developing sleep
disorders, which may also lead them to be at risk for academic failure. Studies have also shown
that little to no sleep may have selective and mixed effects on aspects of memory. The negative
effects of lack of sleep have been well studied, however, the prevalence of such problems among
college students has not been studied and/or documented. The aim of this research is to
determine whether there is an association between sleep deprivation and school performance in

SLEEP DEPRIVATION AFFECTING SCHOOL PERFORMANCE

college students. If college students were to sleep an average of 7 to 8 hours every day, then their
school performance would improve than if they were to sleep less than 7 hours.
In college it is challenging for a student to pull a late or an all-nighter studying and still
manage to get enough sleep to function at optimum level. According to CDC, although
individuals need may vary, adults should get 7 to 9 hours of sleep per day. Students working or
studying long hours may not get enough sleep at night, thus resulting in sleepiness, being
sluggish during the day, and have trouble concentrating, participating in class, taking tests, or
making decisions (CDC, 2014). Also, according to Hershner and Chervin, consequences of sleep
deprivation and daytime sleepiness are especially problematic to college students and can result
in lower grade point averages, increased risk of academic failure, compromised learning, and
impaired mood. Sleep deprivation, and irregular sleep schedules are highly prevalent among
college students, as 50% report daytime sleepiness and 70% attain insufficient sleep (Hershner &
Chervin, 2014).
According to College Health 2015, in April 2010 an anonymous online survey was
conducted from college students, in which four hundred and forty undergraduate students
responded. Three questions were asked to determine the frequency, length, and timing of napping
during the past month. Sleep quality was measured by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index
(PSQI). The PSQI score significantly differed among self-reported nap-frequency and nap-length
groups, with those who napped more than 3 times per week and those who napped more than
2 hours having the poorest sleep quality. Students who napped between 6 and 9pm had shorter
sleep on school nights compared with students in other nap-timing groups. College students who
self-reported frequent, long, and late nappers may have a higher risk of poor nighttime sleep
quality and more severe sleep deprivation (College Health, 2015, p. 88).
Furthermore, another study was done where 147 students completed a demographic
questionnaire, the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), and a modified version of the

SLEEP DEPRIVATION AFFECTING SCHOOL PERFORMANCE

Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). 115 of these students participated in a second phase of
the study, completing the National Sleep Foundation's Sleep Diary for two weeks and a second
BDI-II. Results showed 43.5% of the sample reported having experienced depression for more
than two weeks at some point in their lifetime and approximately 38% consistently reported
trouble going to sleep or remaining asleep. Gender differences in depression correlated with the
BDI sleep variable (Brooks & Mills, 2001).
With those studies reporting such amount of sleep deprivation in such amount of college
students, it is safe to say that this population is at risk for sleep disorders, and those at risk may
also be at risk for academic failure. The American College Health did a study in 2009 to examine
the risk for sleep disorders among college students by gender and age, and their associations with
grade point average. 1,845 college students participated at a large, southeastern public university.
A validated sleep disorder questionnaire was conveyed to survey sleep data during the 20072008 academic year and the students' GPAs were obtained from the schools registrar office. 27%
of students were at risk for at least one sleep disorder. African American and Asian students
reported less risk for insomnia and fewer poor sleep practices relative to white and Latino
students. Students also reported insufficient sleep and a discrepancy between weekday and
weekend amount of sleep. Students at risk for sleep disorders were overrepresented among
students in academic jeopardy of GPA less than 2.0 (American College, 2010).
The aim of this research was to determine whether there is an association between sleep
deprivation and school performance in college students. If college students were to sleep an
average of 7 to 8 hours every day, then their school performance would improve than if they
were to sleep less than 7 hours. College students have long been considered a population
particularly affected by sleep difficulties. The prevalence of sleepiness and sleep deprivation
among college students are strong contributing factors for sleep deprivation, and the role of sleep

SLEEP DEPRIVATION AFFECTING SCHOOL PERFORMANCE

in learning and memory. The impact of sleep and sleep disorders have a great impact on
academics, grade point average, driving, and mood. More studies should be done addressing
sleep issues in correlation to academic failure.

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