Epidemiology of Insomnia in College Students: Relationship With Mental Health, Quality of Life, and Substance Use Difficulties

• Published in: Behavior therapy Vol. 44; no. 3; pp. 339 - 348
• Main Authors: Taylor, Daniel J, Bramoweth, Adam D, Grieser, Emily A, Tatum, Jolyn I, Roane, Brandy M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier Ltd 01.09.2013; Elsevier; Academic Press
• Subjects: Academic achievement; Adolescent; Adult; Age; Anxiety - epidemiology; Anxiety - psychology; Anxiety-Depression; Behavior modification; Behavior therapy. Cognitive therapy; Biological and medical sciences; Chronic insomnia; college; College students; Comorbidity; Depression - epidemiology; Depression - psychology; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; Disorders of higher nervous function. Focal brain diseases. Central vestibular syndrome and deafness. Brain stem syndromes; Drug use; Epidemiology; Fatigue - epidemiology; Fatigue - psychology; Female; Humans; hypnotic; Insomnia; Male; Medical sciences; Mental Health; Nervous system (semeiology, syndromes); Neurology; Prevalence; Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; psychosocial; Quality of life; Quality of Life - psychology; Sleep; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders - diagnosis; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders - epidemiology; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders - psychology; stimulant; Stress, Psychological - epidemiology; Stress, Psychological - psychology; Students - psychology; Substance abuse; Substance-Related Disorders - epidemiology; Substance-Related Disorders - psychology; Surveys and Questionnaires; Treatments; Undergraduate students; Universities; college; psychosocial; hypnotic; stimulant; insomnia; Human; Nervous system diseases; University environment; Mental health; Sleep disorder; Substance abuse; Student; Epidemiology; Quality of life; Treatment; Insomnia; Behavior therapy; Neurological disorder; Public health
• ISSN: 0005-7894; 1878-1888
• DOI: 10.1016/j.beth.2012.12.001

Abstract The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence and correlates of insomnia using rigorous diagnostic criteria and a comprehensive assessment battery. In a large sample ( N = 1,074) of college students (mean age 20.39 years), participants were asked to complete a week-long sleep diary and comprehensive questionnaire packet assessing recommended daytime functioning domains (i.e., fatigue, quality of life, depression, anxiety, stress, academic performance, substance use) during the academic year. A significant portion of this sample of college students met proposed DSM-5 criteria for chronic insomnia (9.5%). The chronic insomnia group reported significantly worse sleep, fatigue, depression, anxiety, stress, and quality of life, and greater hypnotic and stimulant use for sleep problems. There were no differences between groups on excessive daytime sleepiness, academic performance, or substance use. This was a rigorous and comprehensive assessment of the prevalence and psychosocial correlates of insomnia. Insomnia is a significant problem in college students and should be regularly assessed. More research is also needed to guide treatment in this population.