Effects of sleep-wake pattern and residential status on psychological distress in university students

• Published in: Sleep and biological rhythms Vol. 2; no. 3; pp. 192 - 198
• Main Authors: ASAOKA, Shoichi, FUKUDA, Kazuhiko, YAMAZAKI, Katuo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Melbourne, Australia Blackwell Science Pty 01.10.2004
• Subjects: psychological distress; residential status; sleep-wake pattern; university students
• ISSN: 1446-9235; 1479-8425
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1479-8425.2004.00138.x

The effects of a delayed and/or disturbed sleep–wake pattern on mental functioning, frequently found in university students, were confirmed by several studies. The sleep–wake pattern of university students is known to be delayed as their grade progresses. However, some literature argues that the environmental changes at the beginning of university life are crucial to students mental hygiene. These two factors had been examined separately. We investigated the effects of the sleep–wake pattern and environmental changes, especially residential status, on mental functioning, and explored the change of these effects with grade progress in university students. University freshmen participated in this survey in the first and the second semester. The second or third year students participated in the first semester. A total of 196 students’ data were used for analysis. The data were analyzed cross‐sectionally. The results showed that the second or third year students reported the most delayed bedtime (0 : 52) and rise time (7 : 51) on weekdays. Students living with their families reported earlier bedtimes and rise times on weekdays than students living alone (bedtime: 0 : 07 vs. 0 : 38; rise time: 7 : 02 vs. 7 : 50). Multiple regression analyses revealed that the freshmen living with their families showed a better psychological state only immediately after entering university. In contrast, the sleep–wake pattern had no relationship with the psychological state of freshmen, but second or third year students who reported earlier bedtimes showed better psychological states. The impact of residential status on psychological distress might decrease while that of sleep–wake pattern might increase with grade progress.