Sleep duration, sleep quality, excessive daytime sleepiness, and chronotype in university students in India: A systematic review

Abstract

Introduction: Optimal sleep is an important aspect of academic performance and mental health. However, poor sleep health is often present among university students due to their lifestyle and academic requirements. University students in India have been shown to have poor sleep health. Though self-reported sleep issues have been evaluated among university students in India, these results have not been synthesized to date. We aimed to identify factors that may be associated with poor sleep health among university students in India from January 2010 to April 2021, inclusive. As a secondary aim, we sought to evaluate factors associated with sleep among university students in India during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A systematic review was conducted using PubMed, CINAHL, and Google Scholar to identify studies conducted in India related to sleep among university students. The studies were synthesized by aspects of sleep (sleep quality, sleep duration, excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS)) and chronotype, types of university students in India (non-medical and medical) and if they examined sleep in university students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Results: 12 articles were identified that evaluated sleep duration, sleep quality, and excessive daytime sleepiness and included university students in India. Findings suggested that between 25-72% of Indian university students reported poor sleep quality, and 17-44% experienced EDS. Similar associations were noted in both non-medical and medical undergraduate students. Students with evening chronotype vs. intermediate chronotype and morning chronotype were more likely to experience poor sleep quality. Studies conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic reported differing results of poor sleep quality and increased sleep duration. Discussion: Demographic, psychological, and socio-behavioral factors are statistically significantly related to poor sleep quality, EDS, and short sleep duration among university students in India. Take-home message: Poor sleep quality is prevalent among university students in India. To improve sleep issues among university students in India, researchers should design tailored sleep interventions that account for demographic, psychological, and socio-behavioral factors that may place students at risk for poor sleep quality, excessive daytime sleepiness, and short sleep duration. © 2022 by the authors.