Sleep Patterns and Academic Performance among Undergraduate Medical Students: A Cross-sectional Study at a Tertiary Care Teaching Hospital in Chennai, South India

BACKGROUND: Sleep disturbances are common among college students and may adversely affect mood, physical health, and academic performance. Medical undergraduates are particularly vulnerable due to academic stress and demanding schedules. This study aimed to assess and determine the association between sleep quality and academic performance among medical students. Understanding the relationship between sleep quality and academic achievement may help promote healthier sleep behaviors among students. METHODOLOGY: A cross-sectional study was conducted from October 2025 to January 2026 among 3rd-year undergraduate medical students at a tertiary care teaching hospital in Chennai, South India. A total of 100 eligible students were recruited based on the predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Data were collected using self-administered, standardized, validated semi-structured questionnaires. Sleep quality and academic performance were assessed and Fisher's exact test was performed through the SPSS software version 25 to determine the association between the variables. RESULTS: Among 100 undergraduate medical students (mean age 21.31 ± 1.10 years), the mean internal assessment score was 41.09 ± 13.93 and the mean global Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index score was 4.16 ± 1.86. Sleep quality was significantly associated with academic performance (Fisher's exact test = 15.679, P = 0.001); 65.9% of students with poor academic performance were poor sleepers, whereas the majority of students with fair or good performance were good sleepers, demonstrating a clear link between healthier sleep patterns and better academic outcomes. CONCLUSION: Good sleep quality is significantly associated with better academic performance among medical undergraduates. These findings highlight the importance of promoting healthy sleep habits as a potential strategy to improve the academic outcomes in medical students.