Bridging the gap: investigating discrepancies between subjective and objective sleep assessment in university students

Introduction Sleep quality among university students is crucial for academic success and overall well-being. This study investigated the discrepancies between subjective and objective sleep assessment in university students and explored associated factors. Method A total of 19 male university students (mean age: 25 ± 3 years; mean weight: 79.36 ± 15.18 kg; mean height: 1.77 ± 0.09 m; mean body mass index: 25.09 ± 3.99) participated, providing subjective self-reports and objective measurements of sleep quality. Actigraphy was utilized to objectively assess sleep patterns. Statistical analysis included descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation analysis, and a linear mixed-effects model to examine associations between subjective and objective sleep measures and academic performance. Results Significant associations between subjective and objective sleep measures were found, with higher academic performance linked to better sleep efficiency. However, subjective sleep quality metrics did not significantly predict sleep efficiency. Objective measures, such as total sleep time and wake after sleep onset, were significant predictors of sleep efficiency. Discussion These findings underscore the importance of subjective and objective sleep assessments in understanding sleep quality among university students.