THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SLEEP AND ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE AMONG UNDERGRADUATES OF BOWEN UNIVERSITY TEACHING HOSPITAL, OGBOMOSO OYO STATE, NIGERIA.

This study examined the relationship between sleep quality and academic performance among undergraduate nursing students at Bowen University Teaching Hospital (BUTH), Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria. A descriptive cross-sectional research design was adopted, and a total of 158 students were selected using stratified and convenience sampling techniques. Data were collected באמצעות a structured online questionnaire incorporating the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics with SPSS. Findings revealed that a significant proportion of students experienced poor sleep quality, characterized by frequent night awakenings, daytime sleepiness, and reduced enthusiasm for daily activities. Major factors contributing to sleep disturbances included stress and anxiety (66.5%), irregular sleep schedules (87.3%), inconsistent class timetables (75.3%), and exposure to electronic devices before bedtime (57%). The study further found that sleep deprivation negatively affected students’ concentration (79.7%) and memory. Analysis of academic performance showed that students with better sleep quality were more likely to have higher cumulative grade point averages (CGPA), with the majority (60.8%) falling within the 3.50–4.49 range. Inferential statistics indicated a significant relationship between sleep quality and academic performance (p < 0.05). Additionally, significant associations were found between sleep quality and gender, as well as social media usage. The study concluded that sleep quality plays a crucial role in determining academic performance among undergraduate nursing students. It recommends increased awareness of sleep hygiene, stress management interventions, and institutional policies that support healthy sleep practices to enhance students’ academic outcomes and overall well-being.