Zzzs and Degrees: An Exploratory Analysis of Student Sleep Quality and Related Academic Outcomes

• In Event: Lightning Talk: Students’ Experiences, Struggles, and Motivation in Turbulent Academic Times

Abstract

As a necessary function of survival, sleep affects nearly every aspect of our daily lives. For college students in particular, getting enough quality sleep often falls below social, athletic, and academic pursuits on already lengthy to-do lists. The authors take a holistic approach toward understanding contemporary academic experiences through the exploration of the relationships between sleep and related academic outcomes including intrinsic motivation, wellbeing, and cellphone dependence. Survey data from a mid-sized Northeastern university in the United States are the basis for analysis. The results of this study suggest that improved sleep quality can be beneficial across various aspects associated with the contemporary college experience.

Author

• Megan M. Trafford, University of New Haven