Relationship Between Sleep Disorders and Attention Deficit- Hyperactivity Disorder Symptoms in University Students

Sleep disorders increase the symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The aim of this study was to investigate whether or not sleep related problems give rise to symptoms of attention deficit and hyperactivity-impulsivity in university students.

The 252 university students between the ages of 18-25 years included in the study were assessed on the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), the Adult Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Scale, the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI).

The participants of the study comprised 38.5% males and 61.5% females with a mean age of 22.39 (±1.93) years. The mean score data were 5.78 (± 2.72) on the PSQI, 41.77 (± 20.38) on the Adult Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Scale, 8.53 (± 6.97) on the BDI and 9.05 (± 7.92) on the BAI. The total score and the scores on the attention-deficit and the general problems subsections of the Adult Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Scale were significantly higher in participants with poor sleep quality (P<0.001). The PSQI and the Adult Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Scale scores were significantly above the cut-off values in the participants with depression and anxiety symptoms as compared to those without these symptoms (P<0.001). The PSQI total score positively correlated with the Adult Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Scale total score (P<0.001).

University students with sleep disorder have more ADHD symptoms and poor quality of sleep increase ADHD sypmtoms. Therefore it's important to evaluate quality of sleep in young people suffering from attention problems in terms of treatment approaches and interventions.