Psychological distress and sleep quality: A cross-sectional study in university students

Estrada-Araoz E.G.; Mamani-Roque M. · Gaceta Medica de Caracas (2024) · DOI: 10.47307/gmc.2024.132.1.3

Resumen

Introduction: University education is characterized by various academic and personal stressors that could affect students’performance and quality of life. Objective: To determine if there is a relationship between psychologicaldistressandsleep qualityamong students in the professional nursing career at a public university. Methods: Quantitative, non-experimental, cross-sectional correlational study. The sample consisted of 159 students who were administered the Psychological Distress Scale and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), both instruments with adequate levels of validity and reliability. Data were processed using SPSS version 25, and Spearman’s rho coefficient was employed to identify the relationship between study variables. Results: It was found that 40.5 % of the total students had moderate levels of psychological distress, and concerning sleep quality, 34 % of students warranted medical attention. Similarly, a inverse correlation was observed between psychological distress variables and sleep quality (rho= -0.522; p< 0.05). Furthermore, it was discovered that females exhibited higher levels of psychological distress compared to males. Conclusions: There is a relationship between psychological distress and sleep quality among students in the professional nursing career at a public university.

Instituciones: Universidad Nacional del Altiplano; Universidad Nacional Amazónica de Madre de Dios