Date on Honors Thesis

Fall 12-2-2022

Major

Psychology

Minor

Family and Consumer Sciences

Examining Committee Member

Dr. Megan St. Peters

Examining Committee Member

Dr. Esther Malm

Examining Committee Member

Dr. Tracey Garcia McCue

Examining Committee Member

Dr. Warren Edminster

Abstract/Description

Sleep: something so crucial to successful daily functioning, yet also something so easily discarded in turn for something more stimulating. In college, there are late nights, early mornings, use of electronic devices, and the constant “always-on” mentality, all of which impacts student sleep hygiene. To define, the American Academy for Sleep Medicine (AASM) considers “sleep hygiene” as a pattern of healthy sleep behaviors that improve one’s ability to fall asleep, stay asleep, and awake more refreshed (2020). The current study has two goals: 1) assess knowledge of recommended sleep practices in the college population, and 2) identify predictors (among sleep knowledge, habits, and/or sociocultural demands) of student sleep hygiene. Participants (N = 205) took part in the online survey to assess student knowledge of sleep recommendations, sleep habits, sociocultural activities, and sleep hygiene. While students exhibited moderate knowledge of sleep habits, scoring an average of 71.4% on the healthy sleep habits test, this knowledge was not correlated to sleep quality (PSQI). The only significant predictor of sleep quality (PSQI) in students was the number of all-nighters per semester. However, PSQI correlated with each of the three academic variables (GPA, academic self-satisfaction rating, and peer comparison academic rating). These results can be used to more accurately guide education and interventions to improve sleep hygiene in college students. Further explanations and implications for future research are discussed.

Additional Author Comments

Approval signatures not included on this copy but can be found on hard copy if needed.

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