Dados do Trabalho

Título

Chronotype, Sleep Quality, and Excessive Daytime Sleepiness in Dental Students

Introdução

Chronotype refers to individual differences in circadian rhythms that determine each person’s preferences for sleep, wakefulness, and daily activities. Misalignment between a person’s biological chronotype and academic schedules can negatively impact students' physical and mental health. One of the main effects of this misalignment is excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS), which can hinder the learning process and academic performance of university students.

Objetivo

To analyze the association between chronotype, sleep quality, and excessive daytime sleepiness in dental students.

Métodos

This observational, cross-sectional study was conducted with dental students at the University of Pernambuco (UPE). The sample included students of both genders, enrolled from the first to the tenth semester of the Dentistry course at the Pernambuco School of Dentistry. Participants who had any cognitive limitations that made it impossible to understand the research instruments or were undergoing treatment for a sleep disorder were excluded. The following questionnaires were administered: Sociodemographic, Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire, Epworth Sleepiness Scale, and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Data were tabulated and analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS), version 24. Pearson's Chi-square test was used, with a significance level of 5% and a 95% confidence interval.

Resultados

The sample comprised 255 students. The majority (56.1%) were between 20 and 23 years old; 74.9% were female. The most prevalent chronotype was evening (56.5%); 44.7% had poor sleep quality, and 54.1% experienced excessive daytime sleepiness. A significant association was observed between chronotype and EDS (p < 0.05), with students having an evening chronotype being 1.7 times more likely to experience EDS than those with a morning chronotype. Chronotype was not associated with sleep quality or sociodemographic data.

Conclusões

Chronotype was associated with EDS, with excessive daytime sleepiness being more prevalent in students with an evening chronotype.

Palavras -chave

Chronotype, Sleep Quality, and Excessive Daytime Sleepiness