Sleep Quality and Mental Health Among Medical Students: A Cross-Sectional Study
Stipe Vidović1,2, Nada Rakić3, Stela Kraštek2
1Faculty of Medicine, University Josip Juraj Strossmayer, 31 000 Osijek, Croatia.
Journal of Clinical Medicine
|April 12, 2025
Summary
Medical students face high rates of poor sleep quality and mental health issues like depression, anxiety, and stress. Female students reported worse sleep and higher mental health symptoms, with poor sleep linked to increased psychological distress.
Area of Science:
- Medical Education
- Psychiatry
- Sleep Medicine
Background:
- Sleep disturbances and mental health disorders are significant public health concerns.
- Medical students experience unique stressors including academic pressure, long hours, and clinical training burdens.
- These factors may contribute to sleep disturbances and mental health issues in this population.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess sleep quality among medical students.
- To determine the prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms in medical students.
- To investigate the interrelationships between sleep quality and mental health symptoms.
Main Methods:
- A multicentric cross-sectional study involving medical students from two Croatian faculties.
- Sleep quality assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI).
- Depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms evaluated using the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21).
Main Results:
- 67.9% of 386 participants reported poor sleep quality.
- Prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms were 38.8%, 45.3%, and 40.4%, respectively.
- Female students showed significantly poorer sleep quality and higher levels of depression, anxiety, and stress. Significant positive correlations were found between poor sleep quality and mental health symptoms.
Conclusions:
- High prevalence of poor sleep quality and mental health symptoms among medical students.
- Female medical students are disproportionately affected.
- Poorer sleep quality is significantly associated with increased depression, anxiety, and stress.
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