0178 The Relationship of Sleep Hygiene, Sleepiness, and Sleep Quality to Mental Health (Burnout, Depression, Anxiety, and Stress) Among College Students

Abstract Introduction Student burnout has been reported from 10.3% to 71.0% and mental health symptoms have worsened for young adults in recent years. Disturbed sleep has been linked with burnout and mental health issues (e.g. reduced engagement, poor academic achievement, low self-efficacy, low self-esteem, sleep disorders, and suicidal ideation) and may increase vulnerability. Sleep hygiene, behaviors related to quality and quantity of sleep (e.g. consistent bedtimes, comfortable sleeping conditions, and technology use during and before bed), may provide an avenue to treat or protect from burnout, depression, anxiety, and stress. We assessed the relationship between sleep hygiene, sleepiness, sleep quality, and mental health in college students and examined specific modifiable sleep hygiene behaviors as potential targets for intervention. Methods 104 undergraduate students (M = 20.4 years, SD = 1.32, 77 females, 23 males) completed online questionnaires: Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index, Epworth Sleepiness Scale, Sleep Hygiene Index-Technology, Copenhagen Burnout Personal Subscale, School Burnout Inventory, Depression Anxiety Stress Scale, and Mental Toughness Questionnaire. Results Sleep Quality and Sleepiness: Greater sleep disturbance was significantly related to greater personal burnout, school burnout, depression, anxiety, and stress, rs (59)=.233 to.537, all ps <.05. Greater sleepiness was significantly related to more personal burnout, r(73)=0.338, p=.002, anxiety, r(76)=0.396, p<.001, and stress, r(74)=0.349, p=.001. Sleep Hygiene: Poor sleep hygiene was related to greater personal burnout, r(72)=.365; p<.001, school burnout, r(71)=.336; p=.002, and lower mental toughness, r(72)= -.237; p=.021. Poorer mental health was significantly related to the specific sleep hygiene behaviors of long naps, irregular bedtimes, extended time in bed, negative emotions before bed, and anxiety in bed. Frequent technology use in bed predicted all negative mental health measures, rs (72)=.202 to.334, all ps<.05. Conclusion We found a relationship between sleep, sleep hygiene, burnout, and mental health. Sleep disturbance and maladaptive sleep hygiene were significantly related to poorer mental health in these students. The sleep hygiene behaviors identified here (especially technology use during bedtime) are modifiable with cognitive and behavioral interventions and could be avenues for reducing mental health vulnerability in this student population. Support (if any) Virginia A. McCormick Pittman Distinguished Professorship