title: Relationship between Poor Sleep Quality and Psychological Problems among Undergraduate Students in the Southern Thailand.
abstract: We conducted this study to fill the noted gap in the available literature by evaluating the prevalence of poor sleep quality in this understudied population and to explore the relationship between sleep quality and psychological problems among undergraduates in Thailand. This study used a cross-sectional survey. Self-administrated questionnaires included the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), the Epworth Sleepiness Scale, the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale and the Thai General Health Questionnaire. The study group included 1,055 undergraduates, aged 18-25 years. The prevalence of poor sleep quality was 42.4%. Students classified as poor quality sleepers reported significantly more psychological problems, indicating a linear trend of progressively worse global sleep quality associated with greater mood and anxiety symptomatology. Prospective studies that include objective measures of sleep duration and quality are needed to more fully develop focused health promotion strategies for Southeast Asian undergraduates.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand.
authors.forename: Wipawan C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Pensuksan
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.
authors.forename: Somrat
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lertmaharit
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.
authors.forename: Vitool
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Lohsoonthorn
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.
authors.forename: Thanapoom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rattananupong
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand.
authors.forename: Thanawan
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sonkprasert
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: Bizu
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gelaye
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: Michelle A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Williams
keywords: low quality of sleep; psychological problems; southern Thailand; undergraduates