Department

Psychological Sciences

Document Type

Article

Publication Source

Journal of American College Health

Publication Date

2020-11-30

Abstract

Objective: To understand environmental predictors (i.e., nighttime noise disturbance) of sleep health (i.e., restedness) in residential college students and its potential mental health consequences, this study examined daily variation in restedness upon awakening as a potential mediator between nightly environmental noise disturbances and daily fluctuations in depressive and anxiety symptoms.

Participants: The sample was comprised of 283 college students (M age = 19.9, SD  = 1.9; 79% female).

Methods: Multilevel structural equation modeling was conducted based on an initial self-report, online questionnaire and an online 7-day daily sleep (morning) and mood (evening) diary.

Results: Daily fluctuations in college students' reports of restedness (morning diary) mediated the association between the nighttime presence of noise disturbances (morning diary) and depressive and anxiety symptoms (evening diary).

Conclusions: Given the high prevalence of mental health problems in college students, creating more conducive sleep environments may help to prevent depressive and anxiety symptoms in this population.

Keywords

college, environmental noise, mental health, sleep

DOI

10.1080/07448481.2020.1842422

https://doi.org/10.1080/07448481.2020.1842422

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