SLEEP DEPRIVATION RESEARCH STUDY

Rowan University

Consumer Health Decisions –Fall 2013

Mike Bortnowski

Jeff Attenbrunn

Rachel Anzano

Brad Pastrick

“The worst thing to do in this world is to try and sleep and not to.”-F. Scott Fitzgerald

RESEARCH OVERVIEW:WHY IS SLEEP IMPORTANT?. Sleep Deprivation can be defined as sleep that is inefficient to support adequate alertness, performance, performance, and health.

. 20% of Americans report getting less than 6 hours of sleep each night

. Direct negative effect on emotional, physical, and cognitive function

. One of the rising concerns and researched topics of HealthyPeople2020

.Growing health risks are becoming directly correlated to unhealthy sleeping habits

SIGNIFICANCE OF STUDY • Sleep is important to function at optimal levels

academically and athletically

• Sleep deprivation has a direct negative effect on social life and psychological relationships

• Sleeping habits can be indicative of being a healthy or unhealthy person

• Growing problem amongst the younger population especially college age.

RESEARCH FINDINGS &LITERATURE REVIEW

WHAT DOES LACK OF SLEEP DO TO YOU?

• High levels of sleep deprivation is due to heavy academic workloads and employment situations

• Through a physical standpoint, lack of sleep can suppress the immune system and result in increased susceptibility of contracting a disease or infection.

• Sleep deprivation has been known to decrease performance through increased episodes of lapsing, cognitive slowing, memory impairment and a negative shift in reaction time

• Inhibits imperative skill to focus which is essential for academic performance

PHYSICAL AFFECTS

• 48 hours of sleep deprivation leads to a 45 percent decrease in ability to carry out physical tasks

• Decrease in both anaerobic and aerobic function • Body does not adapt to elevated heart rates under

physical stress when fatigued.• Sleep deprivation increases levels of cortisol,

known as the stress hormone.• Decreases production of glycogen, stored

carbohydrates, for energy to be burned during exercise

AFFECTS ON ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE

• Link between cognitive functioning and academic performance among sleep deprived students.

• An experiment conducted on college students indicated that those who were sleep deprived of 24 hours scored significantly lower on critical thinking tests than those who were not sleep deprived-2009

CHEMICAL SUBSTANCES AND SLEEP DISTURBANCE• over 76 percent of students that drink exhibited

poor sleeping habits

• More frequent tobacco users actually wake up during the night from nicotine withdrawal

• Nicotine is a stimulant

• 60% of students use some form of stimulant and eighteen percent use other drugs or substances to combat fatigue

RESEARCH QUESTIONHow does sleep deprivation affect the lives of college students?

METHODS OF CREATING A SURVEY• Used to carry out the study of sleep deprivation

among college students

• Survey created after extensive research on topic

• Specific demographics

• 75 Rowan students will take the survey at random

• Results were evaluated to analyze results.

• Was our research question answered?

METHODS OF CREATING A SURVEY

Surveyed students remained anonymous

Survey did not reveal the study was being conducted on the sleeping habits among college students

Survey was free of bias

Survey was pilot tested amongst a smaller group in a closed setting

Analyzed feedback and evaluated suggestions on improvement

DEMOGRAPHICS• Male/Female

• Age

• Residence-On/Off Campus

• Academic Major

• Distance from Rowan University

• Student athletes vs. Non Athletes

• Semester credits

• Greek Life

• Classification

SURVEY LAYOUT• Consists of 3 different sections :

PART A PART B PART C

Demographic Questions Both open ended and fixed questions regarding sleep patterns and info pertaining to the survey taker’s schedule

Fixed graph and rating scale on fatigue levels directly correlating to sleep deprivation

SURVEY RESULTS & DISCUSSION. Sleep deprivation negatively affects the lives of college students

• 36% consume caffeinated beverages often and

• 73% consume alcoholic beverages at night

• 82% tired upon waking up, throughout the day, before going to bed and after waking up from a nap

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION CONTINUED• Exercise is imperative for a healthy being- both

mentally and physically

• Lack of sleep results in less energy, 51% workout on a daily basis either occasionally or less

• Wide array of majors

• 56% of students taking 15 credits or higher this semester

• 33% not satisfied with their current grades

• More than half of the students are employed and majority work within the range of 11-20 hours

• 64% participate in extracurricular activities and Greek Life

• All of these factors can limit the amount of sleep that students get- in turn affect physical and mental functions

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION CONTINUED• 64% participate in extracurricular activities and

Greek Life

• All of these factors can limit the amount of sleep that students get- in turn affect physical and mental functions

INTERESTING FINDINGS• 90% get 5-8 hours of sleep per night

• Half of surveyed individuals are satisfied with amount of sleep each night

• 95% have claimed to never fallen asleep at the wheel

• 75% have caimed to never fall asleep during class

FINAL THOUGHTS AND IMPROVEMENTS

• Increase sample size- 500

• Compare college students to other groups of people (ie. Adults)

• Survey more students above the undergraduate level-Graduate/Professional Studies

• More emphasis on outside factors such as employment responsibilities and extracurricular activities.

RESOURCES:

• Alic, M. (2011). Sleep Deprivation. In L. J. The Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine. Retrieved from http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CCX1919601595&v=2.1&u=spartan_mcbl&it=r&p=GVRL&sw=

• Clavenger, M., T. (2013). Sleep Deprivation Among College Students. Retrieved from http://www.uscupstate.edu/uploadedFiles/Academics/Undergraduate_Research/Symposium/Final%20Draft%202013.pdf#page=92

• Drayton, W., Gullatt, C., & Johnson, L. M. (2006). Sleep deprivation among college students. Paper presented at the 1639-1654. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/192409626?accountid=13605

• Duval, S.  (2010).  Sleep deprived college students: asleep at the wheel. Center for Advancing Health. Retrieved from

http://www.cfah.org/hbns/2010/sleep-deprived-college-students-asleep-at-the-wheel#.Ul9zQsXD_rf

CONTINUED:• Drowsy Driving. 12 Oct. 2013. <http://drowsydriving.org/about/facts-and-stats/>.

• Healthy People 2020. (2013). Sleep health. Retrieved from http://healthypeople.gov/2020/topicsobjectives2020/overview.aspx?topicid=38

• National Sleep Foundation (2010).  Sleep, athletic performance, and recovery. NSF for Healthcare Professionals. Retrieved from

http://www.sleepfoundation.org/alert/sleep-athletic-performance-and-recovery

• Singleton, A. R., & Wolfson, R.A. (2009). Alcohol consumption, sleep, and academic performance among college students. Retrieved from http://www.jsad.com/jsad/downloadarticle/Alcohol_Consumption_Sleep_and_Academic_Performance_Among_College_Students/4614.pdf

• Taheri, M., & Arabameri, E. (2012). The effect of sleep deprivation on choice reaction time and anaerobic power of college student athletes. Asian Journal of Sports Medicine, 3(1), 15-20. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=s3h&AN=76269623&site=ehost-live

• University Health Center Sleep. (n.d.)   (2013). University Health Center at the University of Georgia, http://www.uhs.uga.edu/sleep/