article · GSC Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences
Medical students often face significant sleep disturbances and psychological challenges, yet evidence from resource-constrained settings remains limited. A cross-sectional study evaluated 225 medical students at Gombe State University during the 2024 academic year to assess relationships between sleep quality and mental health outcomes. The investigation revealed that 70.7 percent of participants experienced poor sleep quality. Mental health challenges were also widespread, with 43.1 percent reporting moderate-to-extreme stress, 35.1 percent facing severe anxiety, and 34.2 percent experiencing moderate depression. Poor sleep quality demonstrated weak but statistically significant links to stress and depression, whereas no significant association was observed with anxiety. Furthermore, female students reported significantly higher rates of depression, anxiety, and stress than male students, despite recording similar sleep quality. Institutional interventions focusing on sleep hygiene and gender-sensitive mental health support are recommended.
High levels of sleep disruption and mental health burdens among medical trainees can impair well-being and academic performance. Demonstrating the scale of these issues and identifying gender disparities in a Nigerian university provides institutional leaders with clear evidence. This supports the development of targeted mental health support, stress management initiatives, and sleep hygiene programmes within resource-constrained higher education settings.
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Background: Medical students face heightened risks of sleep disturbances and mental health challenges with studies indicating that up to 50% of medical students experience significant sleep issues and mental health disorders, yet limited research examines this relationship in resource-constrained settings like Nigeria. This study investigates the association between sleep quality and mental health outcomes among medical students at Gombe State University, with attention to gender disparities. Methods: A cross-sectional study of 225 randomly selected medical students (stratified by academic year) was conducted during the 2024 academic session. Participants completed the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS-21), and a demographic questionnaire.. Data were analyzed using Pearson’s correlation, linear regression, t-tests, and chi-square tests. Results: A striking 70.7% of students reported poor sleep quality (PSQI >5). Mental health symptoms were prevalent: 43.1% had moderate-to-extreme stress, 35.1% severe anxiety, and 34.2% moderate depression. Poor sleep quality showed weak but significant correlations with stress (r=0.198, p=0.003) and depression (r=0.137, p=0.041), but not anxiety (p=0.111). Female students exhibited significantly higher stress (p<0.001), anxiety (p<0.001), and depression (p=0.003) than males, despite comparable sleep quality scores (p=0.077). Conclusion: Poor sleep quality and mental health burdens are pervasive among Gombe State medical students, with gendered patterns of psychological distress. Urgent institutional interventions targeting sleep hygiene, stress management, and gender-sensitive support are needed to improve student well-being, enhance academic performance, and foster a healthier learning environment.
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DOI: 10.30574/gscbps.2025.31.3.0241
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