Dados do Trabalho

Título

THE IMPACT OF SLEEP AND CIRCADIAN CYCLE ALTERATIONS ON QUALITY OF LIFE AND ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN HEALTH SCIENCES STUDENTS

Introdução

Sleep disturbances are negatively associated with mental health, quality of life, and academic performance in the young population. These effects are a result of alterations in circadian and homeostatic mechanisms, which lead to issues in memory consolidation and learning.

Objetivo

The aim of this study was to assess the impacts that sleep disturbances can cause in quality of life, in mental health, and in the academic performance among health students at a university in Espírito Santo, Brazil.

Métodos

This cross-sectional study was based on data collected from 209 students, following approval by the Ethics and Research Committee nº 6882404 (CAAE nº 75771723.6.0000.5062) and with the signing of the Informed Consent Form. The research involved applying an identification form to differentiate students who entered the university before and after the pandemic phase, using the SF-36 Quality of Life Questionnaire to assess health status, the Hamilton Scale to evaluate anxiety and depression among students, and the BRIAN Scale to assess the regularity of biological rhythms, focusing on four aspects: sleep, activities, social interaction, and dietary habits.

Resultados

The results show that physical activity, socialization, diet and depression, although having independent descriptors, are shown to have a value of p=0.002 when related to sleep. A high score on the Hamilton Scale among students reflects a higher level of depression (p=0.004). Additionally, it was observed that problems associated with daily activities, such as academic overload and employment, tend to deteriorate sleep quality. These stressors were further exacerbated during the COVID-19 pandemic, as most participants were actively engaged in academic life. This study also demonstrated that a healthy diet improves sleep quality.

Conclusões

Sleep plays a crucial role in the prevention of anxiety and depression, and that external factors such as diet and daily tasks can change sleep quality. This information is particularly relevant for students, as high-quality sleep is fundamental for achieving satisfactory academic performance. Therefore, promoting seminars and lectures on improving sleep quality are measures aimed at developing healthy academic lifestyles to ensure satisfactory future professional performance. We express our appreciation for the support provided by the Scientific Initiation Program of the university of Espírito Santo.

Palavras -chave

Sleep disturbances, Circadian mechanisms, Mental health, Pandemic.