Written by Hafsah Ganatra and Edited by Ariel Min
From last-minute cramming to late-night Netflix binges, many college students are all too familiar with the overbearing presence of sleepless nights. A socialized norm among students, the caffeine-fueled all-nighter after a long school day has become a prominent stereotype of the typical college lifestyle. As one all-nighter turns to many, college students are becoming more susceptible to the onset of sleep disorders – an epidemic that affects at least 36% of people in America alone [1]. Unfortunately, these disorders come at a price, having an effect on various aspects of daily life including productivity, mental health, and stress [2].
While the causes of insomnia can range from medically-based to lifestyle-based, similar sleep disorders such as Behaviorally Induced Insufficient Sleep Syndrome (BIISS) are mainly rooted in habitual behaviors such as the intake of alcohol, caffeine and energy drinks [1]. For example, students often find themselves in a harsh cycle of using caffeine to counteract sleepiness at night only to experience an exhaustive crash throughout the day that can only be alleviated with more caffeine. In this manner, college students participate in effectively reducing their sleep intake and increasing harmful changes to their daily sleep patterns. Receiving insufficient sleep is highly prevalent among students and around 70% of students report having less than the recommended eight hours of sleep [2]. Moreover, anywhere from 35% – 60% of college students report that they feel drowsy throughout the daytime whereas only 3%-18% of the general public report the same [2]. Many of the increased risk factors for sleep disorders that are singular to college students can be attributed to the college environment. The struggle students face to find a balance between high workloads, friend groups, and newfound freedom can result in sleep loss leading to disorders like BIISS and insomnia.
Many sleep disorders are known to cause a plethora of effects on both the mind and body. Sleeping problems can even have a direct effect on academic success. Numerous studies have found that reduced amounts of sleep correlate with lower GPAs and overall impairments in schoolwork [1]. This is because sleep loss reduces daily productivity and efficiency [3]. An even larger effect of sleep disorders is the potential impact sleep deprivation can have on mental health. This impact includes chronic fatigue, increased anxiety, reduced happiness, higher levels of stress, and lowered optimism [3, 4]. Insomnia, characterized by the difficulty to fall or stay asleep or by the inability to receive quality sleep, is particularly correlated with increased depression, which is also prevalent among college students, with around 30% reporting to have depression symptoms [2].
Aware of the increasing rates and potentially detrimental effects of sleep deprivation among the student population, many researchers have noted the importance of inciting universities and colleges to take a more active stance on promoting better sleeping habits. Previous studies have indicated that Sleep Training and Education Program courses offered in universities, which educated students on sleep hygiene and developing adequate sleeping patterns, had a positive impact on student sleep quality [1]. Furthermore, bringing awareness to other potential treatments, including meditation and the development of electronic-based cognitive therapy, may prove to be potentially helpful for students [1]. As students, it can be easy to overlook the importance of sleep, but it is essential that we understand its necessity and impact on our health.
References:
- Williams, A.B., Dzierzewski, J. M., Griffin, S. C., et al. (2019). Insomnia Disorder and Behaviorally Induced Insufficient Sleep Syndrome: Prevalence and Relationship to Depression in College Students. Behavioral Sleep Medicine, 21:1-13.
- Hershner, S. D., & Chervin, R. D. (2014). Causes and consequences of sleepiness among college students. Nature and Science of Sleep, 6:73–84.
- Schlarb, A. A., Friedrich, A., & Claßen, M. (2017). Sleep problems in university students – an intervention. Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment, 13:1989-2001.
- Medic, G., Wille, M., Hemels, M.E.H. (2017). Short- and long- term health consequences of sleep disruption. Nat Sci Sleep, 9:151-161.