Sleep Deprivation and Its Associated Factors Among Undergraduate Students in Malaysia

Asia Pac J Public Health. 2021 Jul;33(5):530-538. doi: 10.1177/10105395211019930. Epub 2021 Jun 17.

Abstract

This cross-sectional study examines the prevalence of sleep deprivation and its associated factors among 1017 undergraduate students in Malaysia. Sociodemographic and lifestyle factors such as smoking, alcohol, dietary habits, Internet/smartphone use, physical activity, and sedentary behavior were assessed. Sleep deprivation was defined as sleeping less than 7 hours in a day. There were almost equal proportions of females (51.0%) and males (49.0%), and the average age was 20.71 ± 1.47 years. Prevalence of sleep deprivation was 58.1% and its associated factors were students in Year 3 and Year 4, Chinese ethnicity, Indian ethnicity, and consuming fast food more than once a week. Understanding the associated lifestyle factors with sleep deprivation among young generation will be beneficial to develop public health policies and programs to tackle the issue.

Keywords: Malaysia; lifestyle; sleep deprivation; sleep duration; undergraduate student.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Malaysia / epidemiology
  • Male
  • Risk Factors
  • Sleep Deprivation* / epidemiology
  • Students* / statistics & numerical data
  • Young Adult