Sleep quality in medical students: an integrative review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.34024/rnc.2025.v33.19638Keywords:
Sleep quality, medical students, sleep disorders, chronotypeAbstract
Introduction. Sleep disorders affect 40% of the global population, with medical students being especially vulnerable due to high levels of stress and intense academic workload. This group is prone to insomnia, the consequences of which include irritability, fatigue and impairments in cognitive performance, resulting in chronic fatigue and impaired physical and mental function. Objective. To analyze the main factors that affect the quality of sleep of medical students, highlighting the consequences on academic performance and well-being, through an integrative literature review. Method. The research used an integrative literature review with data collected from databases such as PubMed and ScienceDirect. Articles published between 2014 and 2024 were selected, using descriptors such as "sleep quality", "medical students", "sleep disorders" and "academic performance". After screening, 15 studies were included in the analysis. Results. The studies reviewed indicate that the high academic load and the dysregulation between students' chronotype and academic schedules contribute to poor sleep quality, especially insomnia. The consequences include impaired cognitive performance and increased stress levels. Conclusion. This article highlights the relationship between stress, chronotype and sleep quality in medical students, pointing out that sleep deprivation compromises academic performance and well-being. Effective interventions are needed to mitigate these effects and promote a better quality of life among students.
Keywords. Sleep quality; medical students; sleep disorders; chronotype
Metrics
References
Araújo MFM, Lima ACS, Alencar AMPG, Araújo TM, Fragoso LVT, Damasceno MMC. Níveis plasmáticos de cortisol em universitários com má qualidade de sono. Cad Saúde Col 2016;24:105-10. https://doi.org/10.1590/1414-462X20160001022
Sejbuk M, Mirończuk-Chodakowska I, Witkowska AM. Sleep quality: a narrative review on nutrition, stimulants, and physical activity as important factors. Nutrients 2022;14:1912. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14091912
Mazar D, Gileles-Hillel A, Reiter J. Sleep education improves knowledge but not sleep quality among medical students. J Clin Sleep Med 2021;17:1211-5. https://doi.org/10.5664/jcsm.9170
Monteiro BMM, Santos Neto CN, Souza JCRP. Sono e cronotipo em estudantes universitários na pandemia de COVID-19. Pesqu Soc Desenvol 2020;9:e632997688. https://doi.org/10.33448/rsd-v9i9.7688
Montaruli A, Castaldi L, Esposito F, Galasso L, Roveda E, Scurati R, et al. Biological rhythm and chronotype: new perspectives in health. Biomolecules 2021;11:487. https://doi.org/10.3390/biom11040487
Valdez P, Ramírez C, García A. Delaying and extending sleep during weekends: sleep recovery or circadian effect? Chronobiol Inter 1996;13:191-8. https://doi.org/10.3109/07420529609012652
Felden EPG, Leite CR, Rebelatto CF, Andrade RD, Beltrame TS. Tradução e validação da escala pediátrica de sonolência diurna (PDSS) para o português brasileiro. J Ped 2016;92:168-73. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1413-294X2003000100005
Correa CC, Oliveira FK, Pizzamiglio DS, Ortolan EVP, Weber SAT. Qualidade de sono em estudantes de medicina: uma comparação das diferentes fases do curso. J Bras Pneumol 2017;43(4):285-9. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1806-37562016000000178
Teixeira CCA. Fundamentos do Sono, Sonho e e Qualidade de Vida Sob Perspectiva Neurocientífica. Epitaya 2022;1:30-7. https://doi.org/10.47879/ed.ep.2022489p30
Murillo-Rodríguez E, Hussain SA, Stoffel SD, Archer T, González JM, Menchaca A, et al. Neurobiology of dream activity and effects of stimulants on dream. Curr Top Med Chem 2022;22:1280-95. https://doi.org/10.2174/1568026622666220627162032
Almojali AI, Almalki SA, Alothman AS, Masuadi EM, Alaqeel MK. A prevalência e associação do estresse com a qualidade do sono entre estudantes de medicina. Rev Epidemiol Saúde Glob 2017;7:169-74. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jegh.2017.04.005
Pagnin D, Queiroz V, Carvalho YTMS, Dutra ASS, Amaral MB, Queiroz TT. The Relation Between Burnout and Sleep Disorders in Medical Students. Acad Psychiatr 2014;38:438-44. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40596-014-0093-z
Sun SY, Chen GH. Treatment of Circadian Rhythm Sleep–Wake Disorders. Curr Neuropharmacol 2021;20:1022-34. https://doi.org/10.2174/1570159X19666210907122933
Bezerra MP, Lira RCM, Silva AO, Melo ILP, Silva NS, Roque TS. A influência da variação do ciclo do sono no desempenho universitário e no bem-estar de estudantes de medicina. Pesqu Soc Desenvolv 2020;12:e28091211057. https://doi.org/10.33448/rsd-v9i12.11057
Schulz H. The history of sleep research and sleep medicine in Europe. J Sleep Res 2022;31:e13602. https://doi.org/10.1111/jsr.13602
Vitale JA, Roveda E, Montaruli A, Galasso L, Castaldi L, Weydahl A, et al. Chronotype influences activity circadian rhythm and sleep: differences in sleep quality between weekdays and weekend. Chronobiol Inter 2015;32:405-15. https://doi.org/10.3109/07420528.2014.986273
Taillard J, Philip P, Sagaspe P. Sleep timing, chronotype and social jetlag: impact on cognitive abilities and psychiatric disorders. Biochem Pharmacol 2021;191:114438. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bcp.2021.114438
Azad MC, Fraser K, Rumana N, Abdullah AF, Shahana N, Hanly PJ, et al. Sleep disturbances among medical students: a global perspective. J Clin Sleep Med 2015;11:69-74. https://doi.org/10.5664/jcsm.4370
Gardani M, Biello SM, Wolfson AR, Montgomery P, Gumz M, Sprajcer M, et al. Uma revisão sistemática e meta-análise sobre sono insatisfatório, sintomas de insônia e estresse em estudantes de graduação. Res Med Sono 2022;61:101565. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smrv.2021.101565
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Adrielly Oliveira Mateus, Carmem Tainá Alves de Freitas, Maria Isabel Silva Moreira, Mateus Silva Santos
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
How to Cite
Accepted 2025-04-22
Published 2025-05-09
