BMJ openNov 20, 2023

Sleep patterns and their link to sleep quality in Chinese college students from Anhui Province

Circadian Biology Weekly Brief ↗PubMed ↗DOI ↗OA ↗

Updated Mar 29, 2026

Abstract

Among 4,768 Chinese college students, 51.17% identified as evening-type (E-type).

The mean sleep quality score for participants was 4.97±2.82, indicating varying levels of sleep difficulties.
E-type students had a higher likelihood of experiencing poor sleep quality, with an odds ratio (OR) of 1.866.
E-type was associated with longer sleep latency (OR=1.436) and shorter sleep duration (OR=2.149).
Increased daytime dysfunction was also linked to E-type status, with an OR of 1.602.
Overall, 18.2% of the students reported poor sleep quality.

Simplified

OBJECTIVES: To describe the prevalence of and sleep quality among Chinese college students and explore the relationship between chronotype and sleep quality.

DESIGN: A cross-sectional study.

SETTING: Four colleges and universities in Anhui, China, between November and December 2020.

PARTICIPANTS: A total of 4768 college students were recruited using a stratified, multistage, cluster sampling survey.

OUTCOME MEASURES: Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire 19 was used to determine the chronotype of the students and the (PSQI) was used to measure their sleep quality. The multiple logistic regression model was used to explore the potential association between chronotype and sleep quality.

RESULTS: The self-reported proportions of evening-type (E-type), neutral-type and morning-type among college students were 51.17%, 45.14% and 3.69%, respectively. The mean PSQI score was 4.97±2.82 and the prevalence of poor sleep quality was 18.2%. After adjusting the covariates by multiple logistic regression analysis, E-type was positively associated with subjective sleep quality (OR=1.671, 95% CI 1.414 to 1.975), sleep latency (OR=1.436, 95% CI 1.252 to 1.647), sleep duration (OR=2.149, 95% CI 1.506 to 3.067), habitual sleep efficiency (OR=1.702, 95% CI 1.329 to 2.180), daytime dysfunction (OR=1.602, 95% CI 1.412 to 1.818) and overall poor sleep quality (OR=1.866, 95% CI 1.586 to 2.196).

CONCLUSIONS: College students mainly exhibited E-type, and an elevated prevalence of poor sleep quality existed among these students. The E-type was positively associated with poor sleep quality.

Key numbers

51.17%

E-type Prevalence

Percentage of students classified as E-type .

18.2%

Poor Sleep Quality Prevalence

Overall percentage of students reporting poor sleep quality.

4.97±2.82

Mean Score

Average score indicating sleep quality level.

Full Text

We can’t show the full text here under this license.

View Full Text ↗

Sleep patterns and their link to sleep quality in Chinese college students from Anhui Province

Abstract

Key numbers

Full Text

You found one interesting study. We’ll send the next 7.

what lands in your inbox each week:

Recent issues from the circadian biology brief

Abstract

Key numbers

Full Text

Related papers

You found one interesting study. We’ll send the next 7.

what lands in your inbox each week:

Recent issues from the circadian biology brief