Sleepiness in Colombian Medical Students: Prevalence and Associated Variables

Objective: To establish the prevalence of sleepiness in Colombian medical students and associated variables.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with the participation of university students aged ≥18 years. Students completed scales for sleepiness, insomnia, depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, sleep hygiene, and cognitive social capital (measured as social support) between September and November 2022. Raw and adjusted odds ratios (ORs) with 95% CIs were calculated.

Results: Three hundred nine students agreed to participate, of whom 169 (54.7%) were women. The prevalence of sleepiness was 53.1%, insomnia 41.1%, depression 61.2%, anxiety 31.1%, poor sleep hygiene 16.2%, and poor cognitive social capital 23.6%. Sleepiness was associated with the interaction of depression risk and poor cognitive social capital (OR = 4.08, 95% CI, 1.57-10.62) and insomnia risk (OR = 4.01, 95% CI, 2.34-6.89).

Conclusions: The prevalence of sleepiness is high among medical students and is associated with depression, anxiety, and insufficient social capital. Expanding knowledge about the variables related to sleepiness among university students is crucial.

Prim Care Companion CNS Disord 2025;27(1):24m03807.

Author affiliations are listed at the end of this article.