Poor Sleep, Anxiety And Depression Among The Maritime And Health Sciences Higher School Students

Abstract

Aim of the study was to evaluate the associations among poor sleep, anxiety and depression in relation to age and year of studying among the students. Methods. The study sample consisted of 400 Klaipeda State University of Applied Sciences students (96.8% female) and 393 The Lithuanian Maritime Academy students (78.9% male), from 18 to 46 years of age. Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) was used for subjective sleep quality evaluation. Hospital Anxiety and Depression (HAD) scale was used to identify depression and anxiety. PSQI score ≤ 5 was evaluated as good sleep quality; > 5 – poor sleep. HAD score from 0 to 7 was evaluated as no depression or anxiety, score >7 indicated depression and/or anxiety. Additional questions about respondents’ age, gender, study programme and year of the studying were used. The Chi-square test or Fisher exact tests were used to estimate association between categorical variables. Student’s t test was used to compare means and z criteria was used to test the difference in two population proportions. Binary logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate the factors influencing poor sleep. Results. Health sciences students, as compared to maritime students, had higher prevalence of poor sleep (69.8% vs 45.0%) and anxiety (55.5% vs 41.7%). Depression score was higher among the students with poor sleep, as compared to good sleep, respectively 4.38 vs 3.20 (20 yrs), 5.16 vs 3.29 (21 yrs), 5.38 vs 3.22 (≥ 22 yrs). Anxiety score was higher among the students with poor sleep, as compared to good sleep, respectively 7.89 vs 6.11 (18-19 yrs), 8.73 vs 6.12 (20 yrs), 10.40 vs 6.51 (21 yrs), 10.58 vs 6.40 (≥ 22 yrs). The risk of poor sleep was significantly decreased by the studying marine sciences (OR=0.365) and increased by anxiety (OR=1.172), p<0.001. Conclusions. Poor sleep and anxiety were more prevalent among the students of Health Sciences, as compared to students of Lithuanian Maritime Academy. Anxiety and depression mean scores were significantly higher among the students who had poor sleep, as compared to the ones who had good sleep in all age groups, during the first, second and third year of studies. Risk of poor sleep was increased by anxiety, however maritime studies had positive effect on sleep quality.