Sleep Patterns Among College Students: A Cross-Sectional Study Using Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and Epworth Daytime Sleepiness Scale

Background: Good quality sleep and an adequate amount of sleep are important in order to have better cognitive performance and to avoid health problems and psychiatric disorders. Aims and objectives: To assess sleep patterns among college students and evaluate their sleep habits. Material and Methods: A cross-sectional, questionnaire-based descriptive study was conducted in May 2016 among 200 college students from medical, commerce, and engineering disciplines. Students were recruited randomly by selecting every row in the classrooms. Data collection included demographics, addiction status, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) scores, and Epworth Daytime Sleepiness Scale (EDSS) measurements. Results: The study population comprised 56% female and 44% male students. Academic distribution showed 42% from Engineering, 39% from Medical, and 19% from Commerce students. Most participants (84%) lived in hostels. Sleep timing analysis revealed 62.5% of students slept between 11 PM-1 AM, while 31% slept between 9-11 PM. Electronic device usage before sleep was prevalent (95.5%), with a significant association to delayed sleep timing (p < 0.05). Sleep duration analysis showed that 60.5% obtained 5-7 hours of sleep, while 37% achieved 7-9 hours. PSQI analysis indicated 94% of subjects had poor sleep quality (scores >5). EDSS evaluation revealed 66% experienced normal daytime sleepiness, while 30% showed moderate sleepiness requiring attention. Conclusion: The majority of college students demonstrated poor sleep quality with prevalent electronic device usage before bedtime. Short sleep duration and delayed sleep timing were common, with significant daytime sleepiness affecting academic performance. These findings suggest that there is a need for sleep hygiene education and intervention programs in academic institutions. Key words: Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Epworth Daytime Sleepiness Scale (EDSS), Poor sleep quality. Sleep latency, Sleep duration, medical students. Engineering students, Commerce students, and electronic device usage.