Differences in sleep habits, study time, and academic performance between US-born and foreign-born college students.
OBJECTIVE
To inform the design of a sleep improvement program for college students, we assessed academic performance, sleep habits, study hours, and extracurricular time, hypothesizing that there would be differences between US-born and foreign-born students.


METHODS
Questionnaires queried participants on bedtimes, wake times, nap frequency, differences in weekday and weekend sleep habits, study hours, grade point average, time spent at paid employment, and other extracurricular activities. Comparisons were made using chi square tests for categorical data and t tests for continuous data between US-born and foreign-born students.


RESULTS
Of 120 participants (55 % women) with racial diversity (49 whites, 18 blacks, 26 Hispanics, 14 Asians, and 13 other), 49 (41 %) were foreign-born. Comparisons between US-born and foreign-born students showed no differences in average age or gender though US-born had more whites. There were no differences between US-born and foreign-born students for grade point averages, weekday bedtimes, wake times, or total sleep times. However, US-born students averaged 50 min less study time per day (p = 0.01), had almost 9 h less paid employment per week (14.5 vs 23.4 h per week, p = 0.001), and stayed up to socialize more frequently (63 vs 43 %, p = 0.03). Foreign-born students awakened an hour earlier and averaged 40 min less sleep per night on weekends.


CONCLUSIONS
Cultural differences among college students have a profound effect on sleep habits, study hours, and extracurricular time. The design of a sleep improvement program targeting a population with diverse cultural backgrounds must factor in such behavioral variations in order to have relevance and impact.
Montgomery Scholars Program, Montgomery College, 51 Mannakee Street, Rockville, MD, 20850, USA.
Arne H
AH
Eliasson
Department of Medicine, Uniformed Services of the Health Sciences, 4301 Jones Bridge Road, Bethesda, MD, 20814, USA. aheliasson@aol.com.|, 12515 Davan Drive, Silver Spring, MD, 20904, USA. aheliasson@aol.com.
Arn H
AH
Eliasson
Department of Medicine, Uniformed Services of the Health Sciences, 4301 Jones Bridge Road, Bethesda, MD, 20814, USA.
Christopher J
CJ
Lettieri
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D004522:Educational Status; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants / Q000193:education* / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008396:Maryland; D008875:Middle Aged; D000070263:Sleep Hygiene; D012919:Social Behavior; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D058013:Test Taking Skills / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult
Academic performance; College students; Cultural differences; Employment; Sleep habits; Study habits
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