Exploring the Link Between Sleep Quality and Academic Performance of Medical Students: A Cross-Sectional Analysis

Background: Sleep is an essential biological process that significantly impacts quality of life, body functions, and homeostasis. Sleep disturbances are a common complaint among college students worldwide. Medical students, who face increased academic load and irregular schedules, are particularly affected.Aims of the study: This study aimed to assess the association between sleep quality and academic performance. As well it tries to investigate the other contributing factors to poor sleep experiences.Method: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted on 224 students from Al-Zahraa College of Medicine. A questionnaire included sociodemographic characteristics, sleep-affecting factors, and an assessment of the sleep quality of students by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI).Results: A total of (224) medical students. The mean age of students was 21.61 years, and the females form 54.5% of the sample. Most of the participants had mild sleep difficulties 56.3% while only 4% had severe sleep difficulties.  There is a significant association between lack of sleep and poor academic achievement as the p-value <0.05.Conclusions: Sleep disturbances are common among medical students, as most of the participants report sleep difficulties. The study shows that there is a significant relationship between sleep quality and academic performance.