Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 14, 2025
06:39
Through-the-Wall Blood Sampling Method to Minimize Sleep Disruption in Clinical Settings
Published on: June 13, 2025
329
Sleep Pattern Changes in Nursing Students during the COVID-19 Lockdown
Cristina Romero-Blanco1, Julián Rodríguez-Almagro1, María Dolores Onieva-Zafra1
1Department of Nursing, Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy, Ciudad Real Faculty of Nursing, University of Castilla-La Mancha, 13071 Ciudad Real, Spain.
Summary
Nursing students experienced worse sleep quality during the COVID-19 lockdown, despite spending more time in bed. Key factors affected were sleep latency, duration, and efficiency, impacting overall student well-being.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Sleep Medicine
- Psychology
Background:
- Poor sleep quality is prevalent among students, linked to decreased performance and behavioral changes.
- COVID-19 lockdowns may have altered lifestyles, negatively impacting student sleep patterns.
- Nursing students are particularly vulnerable to sleep disturbances due to academic and clinical demands.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the changes in sleep quality among nursing students before and during the COVID-19 lockdown.
- To identify specific sleep parameters affected by the lockdown measures.
- To analyze differences in sleep quality changes across various student demographics.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal observational study involving 207 nursing students.
- Data collected at two time points: February (pre-lockdown) and April (during lockdown).
- Sleep quality assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and its seven components.
Main Results:
- Students spent more time in bed during lockdown (8.5 hours) compared to pre-lockdown (7.6 hours).
- Overall sleep quality worsened during lockdown, with a mean PSQI score increase of 0.91 points.
- Significant negative changes observed in sleep latency, sleep duration, and sleep efficiency.
Conclusions:
- Despite increased time in bed, nursing students' sleep quality deteriorated during the COVID-19 lockdown.
- Lockdown measures significantly impacted multiple sleep components, affecting student health and academic potential.
- Specific subgroups, including women and first/second-year students, experienced more pronounced sleep quality declines.
Related Concept Videos
01:24Sleep-Wake Cycles
2.6K
Sleep is an essential physiological process vital to maintaining overall well-being. The reticular activating system (RAS), a network of neurons in the brainstem, regulates wakefulness and sleep. While it may seem passive, sleep consists of distinct cycles, each with its unique characteristics and functions. Two key sleep phases are non-rapid eye movement (NREM) and rapid eye movement (REM).
NREM Sleep
NREM sleep comprises four progressive stages that seamlessly merge:
NREM Sleep
NREM sleep comprises four progressive stages that seamlessly merge:
2.6K
01:13Insufficient Sleep and Sleep Deprivation
716
Insufficient sleep refers to not getting the recommended amount of sleep for optimal functioning, even if it's just slightly less than needed. Sleep insufficiency may occur due to lifestyle choices, such as staying up late for social events or work, resulting in routinely getting less sleep than required. For example, consistently sleeping 6 hours when the body needs 7-9 hours can lead to cumulative effects on health and well-being.
Sleep deprivation is a more severe form of sleep loss...
Sleep deprivation is a more severe form of sleep loss...
716
01:22Stages of Sleep
1.1K
Sleep progresses through distinct stages, each characterized by specific brain wave patterns and physiological responses ranging from wakefulness to stages of non-rapid eye movement, known as non-REM, to rapid eye movement, referred to as REM. Understanding these stages helps in recognizing how sleep supports various bodily and cognitive functions.
Before sleep begins, in wakefulness, the brain exhibits primarily beta waves, which are high in frequency and low in amplitude, indicating alertness...
Before sleep begins, in wakefulness, the brain exhibits primarily beta waves, which are high in frequency and low in amplitude, indicating alertness...
1.1K
01:24Substance Use Disorders Affecting Sleep
314
Substance use disorders involve a pattern of using drugs more extensively than intended and continuing use despite harmful consequences. This includes legal substances like alcohol and nicotine, as well as illegal drugs. These disorders often involve both physical and psychological dependence, reflecting compulsive use of substances that significantly alter thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, contributing to a major public health issue.
Understanding the concepts of physical dependence,...
Understanding the concepts of physical dependence,...
314
01:27Insomnia
307
Insomnia is a prevalent sleep disorder characterized by difficulty falling asleep, frequent awakenings during the night, and waking up too early without being able to return to sleep. People with insomnia often experience these disruptions at least three nights a week for at least one month. Chronic insomnia, which lasts for at least three months, can lead to increased anxiety, which in turn can worsen sleep difficulties, creating a cycle of sleeplessness and stress.
Multiple factors contribute...
Multiple factors contribute...
307
01:11Understanding Sleep
1.2K
Sleep, an essential biological state, involves significant reductions in physical activity, sensory awareness, and interaction with the environment. This complex physiological process is primarily regulated by specific brain regions, notably the hypothalamus and pons, which govern the sleep-wake cycle or circadian rhythm.
The circadian rhythm, a nearly 24-hour cycle, is deeply influenced by environmental light cues. Light exposure directly affects the hypothalamus, which in turn regulates...
The circadian rhythm, a nearly 24-hour cycle, is deeply influenced by environmental light cues. Light exposure directly affects the hypothalamus, which in turn regulates...
1.2K