Coping with Poor Sleep at University: A Qualitative Study of Student Perspectives and Implications for Personalised Interventions

Background/Objectives: Although it has been established that poor sleep is common in university students, there is some evidence that this has worsened in the post-pandemic era, where irregular sleep patterns and reliance on technology became widespread in young people. This qualitative study explored the experiences of young people who were experiencing poor sleep. Methods: Using purposive sampling, 13 undergraduate students reporting sleep difficulties were recruited from academic institutions in the UK, Italy, and Portugal. In-depth interviews were conducted between July 2022 and January 2023, and data were analysed using thematic analysis. Results: Four themes were constructed: (I) Feeling unable to shake off the lingering effects of COVID lockdown, (II) Hypnotic effects of smartphone usage, (III) Being stuck in a loop of poor sleep and low mood, and (IV) Desperately trying to regain control over sleep. Students were eager to remedy their lack of sleep, but some behaviours, such as excessive social media use and late-night rumination contributed to a vicious cycle of negative emotions further disrupting their sleep, which in turn, worsened these feelings. The normalisation of some sleep-related behaviours among young people contributed to their maintenance. Conclusions: In order to develop effective sleep interventions, it is important to recognise the complex and interconnected factors associated with poor sleep in this population. The findings may inform the development of personalised, targeted interventions that address both the psychological and behavioural factors associated with sleep difficulties in university students.