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Napping in college students and its relationship with nighttime sleep
Lichuan Ye1, Stacy Hutton Johnson, Kathleen Keane
1a William F. Connell School of Nursing , Boston College , Chestnut Hill , Massachusetts.
Journal of American College Health : J of ACH
|November 15, 2014
Summary
Frequent, long, or late naps negatively impact college students' sleep quality. Napping more than 3 times weekly, over 2 hours, or after 6 pm is linked to poorer nighttime sleep and increased sleep deprivation.
Area of Science:
- Sleep science
- Student health
Background:
- Napping is a common behavior among college students.
- Understanding the impact of napping on overall sleep health is crucial for this demographic.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between napping habits (frequency, duration, timing) and nighttime sleep quality in undergraduate students.
Main Methods:
- An anonymous online survey was administered to 440 undergraduate students.
- Napping patterns were assessed via three questions, and sleep quality was measured using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI).
Main Results:
- Higher nap frequency (more than 3 times/week) and longer nap duration (more than 2 hours) were significantly associated with poorer sleep quality (p=.047 and p=.017, respectively).
- Napping between 6-9 pm correlated with shorter nighttime sleep duration on school nights (p=.002).
Conclusions:
- Frequent, prolonged, and late-day napping in college students may indicate a higher risk for poor nighttime sleep quality.
- These napping patterns could contribute to more severe sleep deprivation among students.
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