Sleep Health, Chronotype and Lifestyle Factors in University Communities: UNISLEEP Preliminary Analysis

Abstract

Introduction: Sleep is inherent to all human beings and is understood to be necessary for various physiological and neurophysiological mechanisms, with sleep disorders serving as an entry point for the emergence of other pathologies. Chronotype is a broad concept that encompasses individuals' preferences for rest and activity, which may conflict with social and academic schedules. Objectives: To screen for sleep disorders and evaluate their association with chronotype, substance use, physical activity and symptoms of stress, anxiety and depression in a university population. Methods: This cross-sectional, multicenter, observational study, called UNISLEEP (from Portuguese: Universidade, Sono, Saúde Mental, Estilo de Vida e Exercício Praticado) included undergraduate and graduate students, professors and staff from the 4 campuses of the Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar) and the Faculty of Medicine of Jundiaí (FMJ). Data were collected online, through Google Forms, from October 2024 to June 2025, with a total of 566 participants. Instruments included self-designed questionnaires to assess sociodemographic data and validated scales, such as the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) and the Horne & Ostberg Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire: Reduced Scale (rMEQ). Results: The sample was composed of 62% females and 38% males. Most participants were undergraduate students (75%), while 9% were graduate students, 8% professors and 8% staff. In preliminary analysis, we found that women had a higher ISI mean score compared to men (t(562) = −2.74,p < 0.01). No significant correlations were found between chronotype and sex. ANOVA comparing the ISI score between groups revealed a significant difference (F(3, 219.939) = 7.643; p < 0.001. Hochberg's post-hoc analysis showed a significant difference between undergraduate students and professors (ΔM = 3.67; p < 0.001) and graduate students and professors (ΔM = 3.35; p < 0.014). There was no other significant correlation among groups. Conclusion: Preliminary findings suggest that women were associated with a higher ISI score than men. Additionally, important differences in ISI scores between students (undergraduate and graduate) and professors were found, in which students had higher scores. We will conduct further, more detailed analysis of this database to comprehend the associations involving sleep health and the lifestyle of the university population.