Effects of perceived stress on college students’ sleep quality: a moderated chain mediation model

Perceived Stress has been shown as a key contributor to sleep quality, but the underlying mechanism between perceived stress and sleep quality remains unknown. This study aimed to investigate the impact of perceived stress on sleep quality of college students and the chain mediating roles of presence of meaning in life (PML) and depression, as well as the moderating role of search for meaning in life (SML). Participants were 8178 college students (4599 boys and 3579 girls; Mage = 19.10 years, SD = 1.08) who completed self-report questionnaire, including the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), the Meaning in Life Questionnaire (MLQ), and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). The results showed that higher perceived stress was directly related to poorer sleep quality. This negative impact on sleep quality was mediated through the chained roles of PML and depression. Additionally, the study found that SML moderates the influence of perceived stress, PML and depression on sleep quality. Specifically, for individuals actively search for meaning, the adverse effects of perceived stress and depression on sleep quality are diminished. Concurrently, the positive influence of PML on sleep quality is enhanced. This study revealed that the PML and depression mediate the effect of perceived stress on sleep quality, with SML playing a significant protective role. These results emphasize the necessity of integrating strategies to enhance PML and SML into interventions designed to improve emotion management and sleep quality among college students.