European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

STUDY OF GENDER DIFFERENCES IN SLEEP PATTERN IN YOUNG ADULTS

*Dr. C. Anitha Mohan, Dr. K. Muralikrishnan and Dr. K. Vishnupriyaa

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Sleep is a vital indicator of physical and mental wellbeing. Modern lifestyle takes a heavy toll on sleep hygiene, and it is more so for medical students. Among the students, females have an increased prevalence of sleep related disorders which suggests that gender may have a role to play in the sleep patterns. Aim: To compare the sleep patterns of young males and females and to study the gender differences in various sleep parameters. Methodology: This is a cross sectional analytical online questionnaire-based study. 60 male and 60 female medical students were asked to answer the Pittsburgh sleep quality index questionnaire {PSQI} and the responses were evaluated and scored. A statistical analysis was done using chi-square test. Result: Results showed that there was significant association of gender with sleep patterns. More number of females had poor sleep quality{13.3% vs males 6.6%}. Shorter sleep duration and day time sleepiness was more in females {56.6% vs 33.3%in males and 28.3% vs 8.33% in males respectively}. Poor sleep efficiency was more seen in females {21.6% vs 1.6% in males}, and lastly sleep disturbance was also more in females{13.3 vs 8.3 in males}.Overall PSQI score of good sleep quality {score <5}was scored by 68.3% of males compared to 50% of females. Conclusion: This study shows that female students have a higher prevalence of altered sleep patterns when compared with their male counterparts. Hence, further exploration of the biological mechanisms that underlie the gender differences in sleep patterns wound open up new avenues in the gender specific management of sleep disorders.

Keywords: PSQI – Gender difference –sleep patterns – sleep quality.