Sleep Duration and Sleep Patterns in Chinese University Students: A Comprehensive Meta-Analysis

Abstract

Study objectives: This meta-analysis aimed to determine duration and patterns of sleep in Chinese university students.

Methods: English (PubMed, PsycINFO, Embase) and Chinese (SinoMed, Wan Fang Database, and Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure) databases were systematically and independently searched from their inception until August 16, 2016. Data on sleep duration and sleep patterns of tertiary student population in eligible studies were extracted and pooled using random-effects models.

Results: A total of 57 studies with 82,055 university students were included in the meta-analysis. Pooled mean sleep duration was 7.08 h/d (95% confidence interval [CI]: 6.84 to 7.32 h/d). The percentage of students with sleep duration shorter than 6 h/d and 7 h/d (short sleep) was 8.4% (95% CI: 5.7% to 12.3%) and 43.9% (95% CI: 36.9% to 51.1%), respectively. In contrast, the percentage of students with sleep duration longer than 8 hours and 9 hours (long sleep) was 18.3% and 5.7%, respectively. The pooled mean bedtime was at 12:51 am. The percentage of university students who fall asleep after midnight was 23.8%. The percentage of students with sleep latency more than 30 minutes was 25.5%. The pooled mean wake-up time was at 8:04 am on weekdays and on weekends.

Conclusions: Short sleep duration and unhealthy sleep patterns were found to be common among Chinese university students.

Keywords: China; meta-analysis; sleep duration; sleep patterns; university students.