Sociodemographic, Health Behavior, and Psychological Factors Associated with Poor Sleep Quality Among Psychology Students at a Brazilian Public University

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15448/1980-8623.2026.1.47825

Keywords:

Mental Health, Psychology, Sleep Quality, Stress, Psychological, Students

Abstract

To examine the associations between poor sleep quality and sociodemographic characteristics, sleep hygiene, sleep deprivation, and mental health among undergraduate psychology students at a Brazilian university. This was a quantitative descriptive cross-sectional study with a convenience sample of 130 psychology students (73.8% women, M=21, SD=2.6). Participants completed measures on sociodemographic characteristics, sleep quality, deprivation, and hygiene, health behaviors, self-efficacy, and stress. Multiple regression analysis using Wald chi-square test demonstrated that male sex (p<.01), older age (p<.05), higher stress (p<.001), and non-smoking (p<.05) were associated with poorer sleep quality, while greater weekly working hours (p<.01), better sleep hygiene (p<.05), and higher self-efficacy (p<.05) were associated with better sleep quality. Findings reiterate the relevance of social, psychological, and behavioral factors in comprehending sleep quality.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biographies

Cristiana Nelise De Paula Araujo, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, U.S.A.

Received her Ph.D. in Psychology and M.S. in Psychology at the University of São Paulo, Brazil. She completed her Clinical Psychology training at the University of Uberlândia, Brazil.

Victoria de Almeida Guimarães Solon, Lewis & Clark Graduate School of Education and Counseling, Portland, OR, U.S.A.

Received her BS in Psychology at the University of Ribeirão Preto, Brazil. She is currently completing her MA in Marriage and Family Therapy at Lewis & Clark College, USA.

William Sorensen, University of Texas at Tyler, Tyler, TX, U.S.A.

Received his PhD in Health Promotion/Education from the University of New Orleans, U.S., his MSPH in Biostatistics/Epidemiology from Tulane University, New Orleans, U.S., his MA in Science Education from Columbia University, New York, U.S., and his BA in Liberal Arts from St. John’s College, Santa Fe, U.S.

Vinícius Frayze David, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.

Is a Psychologist, received a M.S. in Psychobiology at the University of São Paulo, and is currently a Ph.D. student and employee at the University of São Paulo.

Regina Helena Lima Caldana, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.

Received her Ph.D. in Education and M.S. in Education at the Federal University of São Carlos; assistant professor at the Department of Psychology at the Faculty of Philosophy, Sciences and Letters at Ribeirão Preto/University of São Paulo since 1986.

Clarissa Mendonça Corradi-Webster, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.

Associate Professor at the University of São Paulo (USP). Received her PhD in Psychology – USP, M.S. in Community Health – USP, and BA in Psychology – USP.

References

Alotaibi, A. D., Alosaimi, F. M., Alajlan, A. A., & Bin Abdulrahman, K. A. (2020). The relationship between sleep quality, stress, and academic performance among medical students. Journal of family & community medicine, 27(1), 23-28. https://doi.org/10.4103/jfcm.JFCM_132_19

Andrade, A. S., Tiraboschi, G. A., Antunes, N. A., Viana, P. V. B. A., Zanoto, P. A., & Curilla, R. T. (2016). Vivências acadêmicas e sofrimento psíquico de estudantes de psicologia. Psicologia: Ciência e Profissão, 36(4), 831-846.

https://doi.org/10.1590/1982-3703004142015

Bacchi, S., & Licinio, J. (2017). Resilience and psychological distress in psychology and medical students. Academic Psychiatry, 41(2), 185-188. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40596-016-0488-0

Bani Issa, W., Hijazi, H., Radwan, H., Saqan, R., Al-Sharman, A., Samsudin, A. B. R., Fakhry, R., Al-Yateem, N.,

Rossiter, R. C., Ibrahim, A., Moustafa, I., Naja, F., Alameddine, M., Abbas, N., Abdelrahim, N. D., Al-Shujairi, A., & Awad, M. (2023). Evaluation of the effectiveness of sleep hygiene education and FITBIT devices on quality of sleep and psychological worry: A pilot quasi-experimental study among first-year college students. Frontiers in public health, 11. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1182758

Beiter, R., Nash, R., McCrady, M., Rhoades, D., Linscomb, M., Clarahan, M., & Sammut, S. (2015). The prevalence and correlates of depression, anxiety, and stress in a sample of college students. Journal of Affective Disorders, 173(1), 90-96. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2014.10.054

Bektas, İ., Kudubeş, A. A., Ayar, D., & Bektas, M. (2021). Predicting the healthy lifestyle behaviors of Turkish adolescents based on their health literacy and self-efficacy levels. Journal of Pediatric Nursing, 59, e20-e25. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pedn.2021.01.016

Carone, C. M. M., Silva, B. D. P., Rodrigues, L. T., Tavares, P. S., Carpena, M. X., & Santos, I. S. (2020). Fatores associados a distúrbios do sono em estudantes universitários. Cadernos de Saúde Pública, 36. https://doi.org/10.1590/0102-311X00074919

Carrier, J., Semba, K., Deurveilher, S., Drogos, L., Cyr-Cronier, J., Lord, C., & Sekerovick, Z. (2017). Sex differences in age-related changes in the sleep-wake cycle. Frontiers in neuroendocrinology, 47, 66-85. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yfrne.2017.07.004

Choueiry, N., Salamoun, T., Jabbour, H., El Osta, N., Hajj, A., & Khabbaz, L. R. (2016). Insomnia and relationship with anxiety in university students: A cross-sectional designed study. PLOS ONE, 11(2). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0149643

Doolin, J., Vilches, J. E., Cooper, C., Gipson, C., & Sorensen, W. (2018). Perceived stress and worldview influence sleep quality in Bolivian and United States university students. Sleep Health, 4(6), 565-571. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sleh.2018.08.006

Faro, A. (2015). Análise fatorial confirmatória das três versões da Perceived Stress Scale (PSS): Um estudo populacional. Psicologia: Reflexão e Crítica, 28(1), 21-30. https://doi.org/10.1590/1678-7153.201528103

Fietze, I., Rosenblum, L., Salanitro, M., Ibatov, A. D., Eliseeva, M. V., Penzel, T., Brand, D., & Westermayer, G. (2022). The Interplay Between Poor Sleep and Work-Related Health. Frontiers in public health, 10. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2022.866750

Gaiotto, E. M. G., Trapé, C. A., Campos, C. M. S., Fujimori, E., Carrer, F. C. A., Nichiata, L. Y. I., Cordeiro, L., Bortoli, M. C., Yonekura, T., Toma, T. S., & Soares, C. B. (2021). Response to college students’ mental health needs: A rapid review. Revista de Saúde Pública, 55. https://doi.org/10.11606/s1518-8787.2021055003363

Humphries, R. K., Bath, D. M., & Burton, N. W. (2022). Dysfunctional beliefs, sleep hygiene and sleep quality in university students. Health promotion journal of Australia: Official journal of Australian Association of Health Promotion Professionals, 33(1), 162-169. https://doi.org/10.1002/hpja.471

Li, Y., Bai, W., Zhu, B., Duan, R., Yu, X., Xu, W., Wang, M., Hua, W., Yu, W., Li, W., & Kou, C. (2020). Prevalence and correlates of poor sleep quality among college students: A cross-sectional survey. Health and Quality of Life Outcomes, 18(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12955020-01465-2

Dehghan, P., Aynehchi, A., Saleh-Ghadimi, S., Jafarabadi, M. A., & Moslemi, E. (2022). Association of self-efficacy and coping with sleep quality and disturbances with an emphasis on mediating role of eating behaviors and body mass index: A structural equation modeling approach. Current Psychology, 41, 7471-7481. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-021-01774-9

De Pasquale, C., El Kazzi, M., Sutherland, K., Shriane, A. E., Vincent, G. E., Cistulli, P. A., & Bin, Y. S. (2024). Sleep hygiene - What do we mean? A bibliographic review. Sleep medicine reviews, 75. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smrv.2024.101930

Lim, D. C., Najafi, A., Afifi, L., Bassetti, C., Buysse, D. J., Han, F., Högl, B., Melaku, Y. A., Morin, M. C., Pack, A. I., Poyares, D., Somers, V. K., Eastwood, P. R., Zee, P. C., & Jackson, C. L. (2023). The need to promote sleep health in public health agendas across the globe. The Lancet. Public health, 8(10), e820-e826. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2468-2667(23)00182-2

Limone, P., & Toto, G. A. (2022). Factors that predispose undergraduates to mental issues: A cumulative literature review for future research perspectives. Frontiers in Public Health, 10. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2022.831349

Lok, R., Qian, J., & Chellappa, S. L. (2024). Sex differences in sleep, circadian rhythms, and metabolism: Implications for precision medicine. Sleep medicine reviews, 75. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smrv.2024.101926

Lund, H. G., Reider, B. D., Whiting, A. B., & Prichard, J. R. (2010). Sleep patterns and predictors of disturbed sleep in a large population of college students. Journal of Adolescent Health, 46(2), 124-132. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2009.06.016

Matsinhe, M. da C. E., Cândido, A. M., Abacar, M., & Aliante, G. (2020). Sintomas de stress em estudantes moçambicanos do curso de Psicologia. Mudanças- Psicologia Da Saúde, 28(2), 1-9. http://pepsic.bvsalud.org/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0104-32692020000200001&lng=pt&tlng=pt

Mendes, J., Sousa, M., Leite, V. M., Belchior, N. M. B. S., & Medeiros, M. T. P. (2019). Qualidade do sono e sonolência em estudantes do ensino superior. Revista Portuguesa de Investigação Comportamental e Social, 5(2), 38-48. https://doi.org/10.31211/rpics.2019.5.2.150

Montagni, I., Qchiqach, S., Pereira, E., Tully, P. J., & Tzourio, C. (2020). Sex-specific associations between sleep and mental health in university students: A large cross-sectional study. Journal of American College Health, 68(3), 278-285. https://doi.org/10.1080/07448481.2018.1546183

Okano, K., Kaczmarzyk, J. R., Dave, N., Gabrieli, J. D. E., & Grossman, J. C. (2019). Sleep quality, duration, and consistency are associated with better academic performance in college students. npj Science of Learning, 4, 16. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41539-019-0055-z

Perrault, A. A., Kebets, V., Kuek, N. M. Y., Cross, N. E., Tesfaye, R., Pomares, F. B., Li, J., Chee, M. W. L., Dang-Vu, T. T., & Yeo, B. T. T. (2025). Identification of five sleep-biopsychosocial profiles with specific neural signatures linking sleep variability with health, cognition, and lifestyle factors. PLoS biology, 23(10). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.3003399

Przepiórka, A., Błachnio, A., & Siu, N. Y.-F. (2019). The relationships between self-efficacy, self-control, chronotype, procrastination and sleep problems in young adults. Chronobiology International, 36(8), 1025-1035. https://doi.org/10.1080/07420528.2019.1607370

Silva, T. K. A., Silva, R. M., Neves, W. C., Gonzaga, L. N., Paula, T. A., & Ferreira, M. V. R. (2022). Impacto do perfil biossocial e acadêmico, sintomas depressivos e estresse na qualidade de sono de estudantes da área de saúde. Revista JGR de Estudos Acadêmicos, 5(11), 340-352. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7359070

Souza, J. C., Cunha, B. V., Leite, L. R. C., Figueiró, M. T., & Andrade, K. O. (2013). Sonolência diurna excessiva entre acadêmicos de psicologia. Psicólogo InFormação, 17(17), 15-24. https://pepsic.bvsalud.org/pdf/psicoinfo/v17n17/v17n17a02.pdf

Timkova, V., Nagyova, I., Reijneveld, S. A., Tkacova, R., van Dijk, J. P., & Bültmann, U. (2020). Psychological distress in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea: The role of hostility and coping self-efficacy. Journal of health psychology, 25(13-14), 2244-2259. https://doi.org/10.1177/1359105318792080

Thomas, S. J., Caputi, P., & Wilson, C. J. (2014). Specific attitudes which predict psychology students’ intentions to seek help for psychological distress. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 70(3), 273-282. https://doi.org/10.1002/jclp.22022

Vizzotto, M., Jesus, S., & Martins, A., (2017). Saudades de casa: Indicativos de depressão, ansiedade, qualidade de vida e adaptação de estudantes universitários. Revista Psicologia e Saúde, 9(1), 59-73. https://doi.org/10.20435/pssa.v9i1.469

Wang, F., & Bíró, É. (2021). Determinants of sleep quality in college students: A literature review. Explore, 17(2), 170-177. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.explore.2020.11.003

Watson, N. F., Badr, M. S., Belenky, G., Bliwise, D. L., Buxton, O. M., Buysse, D., Dinges, D. F., Gangwisch, J., Grandner, M. A., Kushida, C., Malhotra, R. K., Martin, J. L., Patel, S. R., Quan, S. F., Tasali, E., Twery, M., Croft, J. B., Maher, E., Barrett, J. A., … Heald, J. L. (2015). Joint consensus statement of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and Sleep Research Society on the recommended amount of sleep for a healthy adult: Methodology and discussion. Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, 11(08), 931-952. https://doi.org/10.5664/jcsm.4950

Zhang, J., Xu, Z., Zhao, K., Chen, T., Ye, X., Shen, Z., Wu, Z., Zhang, J., Shen, X., & Li, S. (2018). Sleep habits, sleep problems, sleep hygiene, and their associations with mental health problems among adolescents. Journal of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association, 24(3), 223-234. https://doi.org/10.1177/1078390317715315

Zochil, M. L., & Thorsteinsson, E. B. (2018). Exploring poor sleep, mental health, and help‐seeking intention in university students. Australian Journal of Psychology, 70(1), 41–47. https://doi.org/10.1111/ajpy.12160

Downloads

Published

2026-10-23

How to Cite

De Paula Araujo, C. N., de Almeida Guimarães Solon, V., Sorensen, W., Frayze David, V., Helena Lima Caldana, R., & Mendonça Corradi-Webster, C. (2026). Sociodemographic, Health Behavior, and Psychological Factors Associated with Poor Sleep Quality Among Psychology Students at a Brazilian Public University. Psico, 57(1), e47825. https://doi.org/10.15448/1980-8623.2026.1.47825

Issue

Section

Psico Aberta para Submissões