Associations between Mental Health, Academic Performance, and Sleep Quality in Physical Therapy Students: A Cross-Sectional Study

Main Article Content

Shafaq Altaf
Kazem Malmir
Seyed Mohsen Mir
Gholam Raza Olyaei
Aadil Omar
Jaweria Syed

Abstract

Background: Sleep quality significantly impacts both mental and physical health and is a critical factor in academic performance among young adults. Emerging evidence suggests a complex interaction between sleep patterns, mental health status, and educational outcomes in this demographic.


Objective: This study aimed to investigate the correlations between sleep disturbance, academic performance, and mental health within a population of young adults.


Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted with 236 participants from the Doctor of Physical Therapy program at Shifa Tameer-e-Millat University, Islamabad, during the Spring semester of 2019. Data were collected via the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), the Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQ), and the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS), with academic performance measured by GPA. Statistical analysis was performed using Pearson's correlation coefficient in SPSS version 25.


Results: A significant negative correlation was found between depression and GPA (r = -0.139; p = 0.033*), while stress and academic performance showed a positive but non-significant correlation. Sleep quality correlated positively with both depression (r = 0.183; p = 0.005**) and anxiety (r = 0.147; p = 0.024*). However, no significant correlation was found between sleep patterns and any of the mental health variables.


Conclusion: The findings demonstrate a clear negative impact of depression on academic achievement in young adults and suggest that poor sleep quality may be associated with higher levels of depression and anxiety. These results emphasize the importance of addressing sleep and mental health issues to improve academic outcomes.

Article Details

How to Cite
Altaf, S., Malmir, K., Mir, S. M., Olyaei, G. R., Omar, A., & Syed, J. (2024). Associations between Mental Health, Academic Performance, and Sleep Quality in Physical Therapy Students: A Cross-Sectional Study . Journal of Health and Rehabilitation Research, 4(1), 1291–1295. https://doi.org/10.61919/jhrr.v4i1.615
Section
Articles
Author Biographies

Shafaq Altaf, Tehran University of Medical Sciences Tehran Iran.

School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Shifa Tameer-e-Millat University, Islamabad, Pakistan.

Kazem Malmir, Tehran University of Medical Sciences Tehran Iran.

School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

Seyed Mohsen Mir, Tehran University of Medical Sciences Tehran Iran.

School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

Gholam Raza Olyaei, Tehran University of Medical Sciences Tehran Iran.

School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

Aadil Omar, Tehran University of Medical Sciences Tehran Iran.

School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Islamabad College of Physiotherapy, Margalla Institute of Health Sciences, Pakistan.

Jaweria Syed, Shifa Tameer-e-Millat University Islamabad Pakistan.

Shifa Tameer-e-Millat University Islamabad Pakistan.

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