Evaluation of the Effects of Night Eating Syndrome and Mindful Eating on Sleep Quality Among Female Students in the Faculty of Health Sciences

Abstract

Poor sleep quality is prevalent among university students and has been linked to unhealthy eating behaviors, including night eating and low mindful eating, which may negatively impact overall health and well-being. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of mindful eating and night eating syndrome on sleep quality among female students in the Faculty of Health Sciences. This cross-sectional study was conducted with a total of 360 female university students aged 18 to 24 years. Data were collected through face-to-face surveys, and the Mindful Eating Questionnaire (MEQ), Night Eating Questionnaire (NEQ), and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) were administered. Among the participants, 40.8% were classified as good sleepers, while 59.2% were poor sleepers. Additionally, MEQscores were not statistically different between the two groups (p > 0.05), while NEQ total scores were significantly higher in participants with poor sleep quality (p = 0.003). Higher total PSQI scores were significantly associated with skipping meals (Beta = 0.101), alcohol consumption (Beta = 0.163), high BMI (Beta = 0.610), and NEQ score (Beta = 0.084). In conclusion, poor sleep quality among female university students is significantly associated with night eating behaviors, higher BMI, meal skipping, and alcohol consumption, highlighting the need for interventions targeting these behaviors to improve sleep quality and overall well-being.