Sleep quality and its associated factors among university students in Malawi

Abstract

Background Mental, physical, and social well-being have an impact on sleep quality. University students are vulnerable to sleep problems due to academic pressure coupled with psychosocial problems. Aim This study aimed to investigate sleep quality and identify its associated factors among university students in Malawi. Method A cross-sectional study was conducted using data collected from 984 students across 13 academic institutions (private and public) in Malawi. A standardized questionnaire was administered via Google Forms, assessing demographic sleep quality and its associated factor variables. Descriptive statistics, Chi-square tests, and logistic regression analyses were used to explore and examine possible associations between poor sleep quality and various demographic factors. Results The study revealed that 28.9% of students experienced poor sleep quality. Gender (p=0.039) and suicidal thoughts (p<0.001) were significantly associated with poor sleep. The results of regression analysis showed that, suicidal thoughts significantly influence bad sleep (p<0.001). However, sleep quality was not significantly influenced by age, year of study, level of study, and gender (p>0.05). Conclusion The findings suggest that mental health concerns, particularly suicidal thoughts, are strongly linked to poor sleep quality among university students in Malawi. The results highlight the need for targeted interventions to address sleep-related issues and promote mental well-being among students.