Developing a Model of the Demographic, Health Behavior, and Health Indicator Predictors of Sleep Quality in Emerging Adults at a Large Midwestern University

Abstract

This study described the state of emerging adults' sleep quality and defined a model of sleep quality in the population. The purpose of this study was to describe the current state of emerging adults' sleep patterns and develop a model of demographic, behavioral, and health status predictors of sleep quality in the population as measured by the American College Health Association's National College Health Assessment-II. The participants were 762 (n = 291 male, n = 471 female) undergraduate students, ages 18 to 23, enrolled at a large Midwestern university. Descriptive statistics were used to determine the current descriptive picture of students' sleep. Descriptive results indicated that students have poor sleep quality, less than half have received information on sleep from the university, and students are interested in receiving information, but only 2.6% have been diagnosed or treated for a sleep disorder. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was conducted to determine if survey data supported the proposed causal model for sleep quality or described a reduced alternate model. SEM results indicated a good fit model with six observed sleep quality indicator items identifying two related constructs of sleep quality, sleep quality somnolence and sleep quality insomnia, which were predicted by gender, poor general health, high stress, sleep diagnosis, frequency of binge drinking, and anxiety or depression diagnosis. Based on the findings additional research is needed to further test the model, examine non-significant variables further, and consider additional variables. Findings resulted in the conclusion that university health promotion and education should indeed address sleep quality, and best practices to do so may focus on overall wellness, stress reduction, and reduction of binge drinking with special focus on females and individuals diagnosed with sleep disorders, anxiety, and depression.