A Cross-Sectional Study Using STROBE Platform to Examine Sleep Characteristics, Mental Health and Academic Performance of Female Applied Medical Sciences Students in the Southwest of Saudi Arabia

Background: Medical students are expected to excel in their academics. Hence exposing them to a certain amount of strain may sometimes cause sleep disruptions. The purpose of this study was to determine the sleep quality among Saudi Applied Medical Sciences students and its potential connections with their academic performance and mental health. Methods: This online cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was conducted at Jazan University’s College of Applied Medical Sciences in Saudi Arabia. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), a known indicator of sleep quality, a validated mental health measure; Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21 (DASS-21), and Academic Performance Scale (APS) with 89 internal consistencies were included in the questionnaire. The cumulative grade point average (GPA) was also used as a covariate to evaluate students’ academic success. Results: 112 people responded (response rate = 93%), and 105 of them presented comprehensive information about their backgrounds, way of life, academic standing, sleep patterns, and mental health. Participants’ average GPA and APS scores were 4.23 ± 0.52 and 33.16 ± 5.63, respectively. The mean global PSQI score was 6.47 with 2.34 of standard deviation (SD). The majority of individuals (60%) had poor sleep quality particularly due to abnormal sleep latency and lesser sleep duration, as determined by their PSQI score. The prevalence rates for depression, anxiety, and stress were higher; 53%, 54% and 40%, respectively. Both depression and anxiety were substantially correlated with poor sleep quality (p-value = 0.008, p-value = 0.01, respectively). Sleep quality had no significant effect on GPA while global PSQI and depression were significantly negatively correlated with an APS score of participants (p-value = 0.007 and 0.015, respectively). Conclusions: Higher rates of poor sleep quality and psychologically negative emotions were prevalent. Unhealthy sleep patterns were linked to increased levels of anxiety and depression. Self-perceived academic performance was negatively impacted by inadequate sleep and negative emotions, despite the fact that the GPA results were unaffected.