How COVID-19 impacted sleep and mental health among university students MentalHealth Sleep Students Coronavirus Disease COVID University colgateuniv PLOSONE
The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 pandemic has posed unique social, academic, health-associated, and financial challenges for young adults. In addition, several studies have reported increased MH issues mid-pandemic in the general public; however, data on the magnitude of intra-individual sleep difficulties and MH issues are lacking.
About the study In the present study, the researchers reported only intra-individual effects among previous study cohort participants with complete pre-COVID-19 and mid-COVID-19 pandemic data, using the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic as an intervention for the study. Nearly 50% of the study courses were provided offline, and social gatherings and sporting activities were restricted before the study samples were obtained. The students completed self-reported behavioral surveys, including BDI-II , STAI PROMIS for sleep perturbations, reduced MEQ , and MSF , calculated using MCTQ .
Among the participants, 68%, 45%, and 59% of the students reported lesser sleep, sleeping at a later time, and worsened sleep health during COVID-19, respectively. Mid-pandemic sleep perturbations were three-fold greater than pre-pandemic . Sleep perturbations were associated with increases in depression and anxiety, underscoring the robust and inverse association between quality of sleep and MH.