Sleep Disturbances and Their Association with Anxiety and Depression among Medical, Dental & Nursing Students: A Multicentric Study in India

Abstract

Background: Sleep disturbances are prevalent among health professional students due to academic load, clinical duties, and psychosocial stressors. Poor sleep quality has been linked to anxiety and depression, which may negatively impact academic performance and well-being.

Objective: To assess the prevalence of sleep disturbances and examine their association with anxiety and depression among students of medical, dental, and nursing colleges in India.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among students from 2 medical, 2 dental, and 2 nursing colleges in India (N = 1200). Standardized questionnaires including the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) were used. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and multivariate logistic regression.

Results: Overall, 58.1% of students reported poor sleep quality. Prevalence of anxiety and depression was 42.3% and 36.7%, respectively. Poor sleepers had significantly higher odds of anxiety (OR = 3.21; 95% CI: 2.67–3.87) and depression (OR = 2.89; 95% CI: 2.40–3.48) compared to good sleepers. Differences across disciplines revealed higher sleep disturbances among medical students (62.5%) compared to dental (57.0%) and nursing students (54.8%).

Conclusion: Sleep disturbances are highly prevalent among health professional students and strongly associated with anxiety and depression. Early screening and interventions such as sleep hygiene education and mental health support are recommended.