Relationship between Poor Sleep Quality and Psychological Problems among Undergraduate Students in the Southern Thailand

Wipawan Chaoum PENSUKSAN; Somrat LERTMAHARIT; Vitool LOHSOONTHORN; Thanapoom RATTANANUPONG; Thanawan SONKPRASERT; Bizu GELAYE; Michelle A. WILLIAMS

Authors

Wipawan Chaoum PENSUKSAN School of Nursing, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat 80161
Somrat LERTMAHARIT Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330
Vitool LOHSOONTHORN Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330
Thanapoom RATTANANUPONG Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330
Thanawan SONKPRASERT 1School of Nursing, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat 80161
Bizu GELAYE Department of Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
Michelle A. WILLIAMS Department of Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts

Keywords:

Low quality of sleep, psychological problems, undergraduates, southern Thailand

Abstract

We conducted this study to fill the noted gap in the available literature by evaluating the prevalence of poor sleep quality in this understudied population and to explore the relationship between sleep quality and psychological problems among undergraduates in Thailand. This study used a cross-sectional survey. Self-administrated questionnaires included the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), the Epworth Sleepiness Scale, the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale and the Thai General Health Questionnaire. The study group included 1,055 undergraduates, aged 18 - 25 years. The prevalence of poor sleep quality was 42.4 %. Students classified as poor quality sleepers reported significantly more psychological problems, indicating a linear trend of progressively worse global sleep quality associated with greater mood and anxiety symptomatology. Prospective studies that include objective measures of sleep duration and quality are needed to more fully develop focused health promotion strategies for Southeast Asian undergraduates.

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Author Biography

Wipawan Chaoum PENSUKSAN, School of Nursing, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat 80161

School of Nursing

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