Sleep parameters associated with university students’ grade point average and dissatisfaction with academic performance

Abstract

The present study sought to determine which subjective sleep assessment parameters were most strongly associated with university students’ grade point average (GPA) and level of satisfaction with their academic performance. One hundred and five students completed the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and answered questions about their GPA and level of satisfaction with that average. Logistic regression analyses indicate that the parameters most strongly associated with students’ GPA are, in descending order, sleep efficiency, daytime dysfunction due to sleepiness, and total sleep time. Only one parameter was associated with dissatisfaction with the GPA: subjective sleep quality. This study highlights the importance of considering students’ expectations of their academic performance rather than focusing solely on their grades. It also advocates for promoting high sleep efficiency rather than focusing exclusively or primarily on sleep duration.