SLEEP QUALITY AMONG UITM PUNCAK PERDANA STUDENTS

1.0 INTRODUCTION

Sleep is a repetitive and reversible neurobehavioral state characterised by relative

detachment from perception and insensitivity to external stimuli (Carskadon & Dement,
2011). Moreover, sleep significantly impacts an individual's cognitive performance, alertness,
and mood (Worley, 2018). According to (Watson et al., 2015), An adult's average sleep
duration is 7 to 9 hours per night to maintain optimal body functions. (Watson et al., 2015)
Suppose an individual sleeps less than the normal average duration. In that case, it will hurt
their health and increase the risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes, melancholy,
hypertension, and stroke. In addition, there are four stages of sleep, including REM and
NREM (Worley, 2018).

Literature findings indicate that a declining trend in sleep duration has accompanied
the global obesity epidemic. Today, poor sleep quality is a common social complaint;
consequently, the duration and quality of sleep are regarded as new obesity risk factors. In
light of this, it should not surprise that brief sleep duration is associated with overeating,
glucose intolerance, weight gain, and loss of lean body mass. In cardiovascular health, for
instance, inadequate quality or quantity of sleep may be a risk factor. Current
epidemiological studies have shown that short-duration sleep is strongly associated with
all-cause mortality, particularly cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and type 2 diabetes mellitus,
compared to subjects who reported sleeping more than 8 hours per night. In contrast, a
meta-analysis found that issues that rest for a long time (> 9 hours) and for a short time ( 7
hours) have a reduced life expectancy primarily due to cardiovascular disease and cancer,
particularly in women.

Moreover, poor sleep quality and quantity may also affect cholesterolemia. Studies
indicating that obstruction of the airways during sleep increases lipid peroxidation were
analysed to elucidate this fact. These studies also revealed that those with longer sleep
durations are more susceptible to developing dyslipidemias and hypercholesterolemia.
There is currently no biologically plausible explanation for this or any other relationship
between sleep and lipid profile. There are hypotheses that individuals who spend more time
in bed (extended duration sleep) are more sedentary and overweight than others, resulting in
high lipid levels.

(intext citation) An extensive population survey in the United Kingdom examining the
correlation between smartphone addiction and poor sleep quality found that approximately

1
61.6% of participants reported poor sleep quality. In comparison, 68.7% of those with
smartphone addiction reported the same. They discovered that about 70% of those with
smartphone addiction had poor sleep quality, compared to less than 69% of those without
smartphone addiction. In addition, problematic Internet use has been linked to decreased
rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, slow-wave sleep, and sleep efficacy, all of which
negatively affect sleep quality. In addition, it is conceivable that the screen's light suppresses
melatonin secretion, thereby delaying sleep onset.

2.0 PROBLEM STATEMENT

The quality of sleep is vital to university students' well-being, particularly those at

UiTM. According to studies, college students' poor sleep quality results from increased
academic stress and increased time spent researching and participating in extracurricular
activities. During the COVID-19 suspension, a survey of pharmaceutical students at UiTM
Puncak Alam revealed that most students were poor sleepers and that psychological stress
adversely affected sleep quality. According to a second study, the active lifestyle of UiTM
students was a factor in their excellent rest. Regarding sleep quality, the aggregate
significance of the UiTM students' results was marginally greater. Students at UiTM must
comprehend the importance of sleep quality and its impact on their health.

In addition, smartphone addiction is correlated with poor sleep quality, and

neuroticism is the most-studied personality trait associated with smartphone addiction.
Additionally, there appear to be gender differences in smartphone addiction; therefore, the
gender effect should be considered. On the other hand, alcohol is one of the examples and
is likely to be the most extensively used sleep-inducing substance in human history. In
addition, the effects of alcoholism on sleep may produce varying outcomes. During the first
three hours after consuming alcohol, latency and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep
decrease while the nonREM (NREM) phase increases. (Araújo et al., 2014)

2
3.0 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The objective of the sleep quality among UiTM Puncak Perdana Students are:

1. Investigating factors influencing sleep quality: The goal may be to look into various
factors affecting students' sleep quality. This can include investigating the effects of
lifestyle factors (such as caffeine consumption, exercise, and electronic device use),
environmental factors (such as noise and light exposure), academic workload, stress
levels, and mental health issues.
2. Examining sleep quality: The study may assess university students' sleep quality,
considering factors such as sleep duration, sleep disturbances, sleep efficiency, and
subjective perceptions of sleep quality.
3. Investigating the relationship between academic performance and sleep: The goal
could be to look into the relationship between sleep quality and academic
performance in students. Examining how sleep duration, sleep disturbances, or other
sleep-related factors affect cognitive functioning, attention, memory, and academic
achievement is one example.
4. Understanding the effects of inadequate sleep: The goal could be to investigate the
impact of insufficient sleep on various aspects of students' lives, such as mental
health, physical health, daytime functioning, mood, stress levels, and overall
well-being.

The study may aim to provide recommendations or interventions to promote healthier social
media use, improve sleep quality, and improve academic performance among university
students. This could include developing educational programmes focusing on the
relationship between social media, sleep, and academic success or suggesting responsible
social media use guidelines.

We can gain insights into potential factors influencing student well-being and academic
outcomes by studying the relationship between sleep quality, social media usage, and
academic performance among university students. The above objectives help to understand
the complex interplay of these variables and inform strategies to promote healthier sleep
habits and academic success among university students.

3
4.0 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The study findings will benefit students with sleeping problems. First, we will reveal the
consequences of poor sleep, such as increased risk of mental issues, decreased cognitive
function, etc. Second, we get insights into lifestyle factors such as increased workload and
high stress on sleep patterns. The third is developing interventions to improve sleep habits
and promote healthy sleep behaviours. Lastly, we will identify the relationship between sleep
quality and academic performance among university students.

- family
- university
- society
- MOE

4
5.0 LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY

There are a few limitations of the study that we could face. The study has a relatively small
sample size, which limits the generalizability of the findings to a larger population of
university students. Sleep quality is also often assessed through self-report measures, such
as questionnaires or sleep diaries. However, self-reporting can be subject to recall bias or
social desirability bias, leading to inaccurate or biased responses. Various factors can
influence sleep quality among university students, such as stress, lifestyle habits, or mental
health. Research studies need help to account for all these potentially confounding
variables, making it challenging to make accurate findings and results. Lastly, due to the
cultural, social, and environmental differences among universities and student populations,
findings from one study may not apply to students in different situations or regions.

5
6.0 PREVIOUS STUDIES

The study aimed to look into soft music's effects on sleep quality in older
community-dwelling men and women in Taiwan. A randomised controlled trial with a
two-group repeated measures design was used in the study. Participants included
community-dwelling older adults aged 60 and up with no history of hearing or cognitive
impairment, psychiatric disorders, or sleep disorders. The study enlisted 60 participants, 30
assigned to the music group and 30 to the control group.

Throughout the study, the investigator called all participants twice a week. For four
weeks, those in the music group were instructed to listen to soft, slow music for 45 minutes
before bedtime. During this time, the control group received no intervention. The results
showed that those in the music group had significantly better sleep quality than those in the
control group. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) scores decreased significantly
from baseline to post-intervention in both groups. Still, the music group experienced a more
significant decrease than the control group (Lai & Good, 2005, p. 238).

According to the findings, soft, slow music used as therapy can improve sleep quality
in community-dwelling older people. Music is relaxing and safe and can treat insomnia in the
elderly. The intervention is simple to learn, inexpensive, and easily implemented by nurses
(Lai & Good, 2005, p. 244). Finally, this study adds to our understanding of the effectiveness
of soft, slow music therapy on sleep quality in community-dwelling older people. It
emphasises using non-pharmacological interventions such as music to improve sleep quality
in older adults. This study has some limitations. The sample size was small, which may limit
the findings. Second, the study was conducted in Taiwan, which may determine the findings'
applicability to other cultural contexts. Finally, the research should have looked into the
long-term effects of music on sleep.

6
7.0 METHODOLOGY
7.1 RESEARCH INSTRUMENT

In our study on sleep quality among UITM Puncak Perdana students, the research
instrument that will be used to obtain data and answers is an online questionnaire. This
online questionnaire will contain five questions that use qualitative research methods. The
first part of this online questionnaire will collect general information related to respondents,
namely gender, age, field of study and level of education. Next, in the second part, we place
questions related to sleep habits and routines where the data review will involve short
answers. These questions can help research with insights into participants' sleep schedules,
sleep quality, sleep-related behaviours, and potential factors that may influence sleep. The
data collected from these questions can be used to analyse sleep patterns, identify
sleep-related issues or disorders, and explore associations between sleep and other
variables of interest. The third part of this questionnaire is about sleep environment and
consists of 5 questions, 3 of which are yes or no questions and two are short answers.
These questions provide insights into the physical aspects of the sleep environment and how
they may impact sleep quality, comfort, and disturbances. Researchers can use this
information to explore the relationship between the sleep environment and sleep outcomes,
identify potential environmental factors that disrupt sleep, and offer recommendations for
improving the sleep environment to promote better sleep hygiene.

The fourth part will be asked about the impact on academic performance and
well-being and has six questions. These questions help researchers explore the interplay
between sleep, stress, lifestyle choices, mental health, academic performance, and
well-being. The responses can provide insights into the potential effects of these factors on
academic success and overall well-being and inform interventions or support services that
can enhance students' educational experiences and promote their well-being. Finally, is the
recommendation and feedback section, and there are only two questions. These questions
allow participants to contribute their perspectives and ideas, ensuring their voices are heard,
and their insights are considered. The recommendations and feedback from this section can
help researchers refine their study, identify potential areas for improvement or further
investigation, and better understand the participant's viewpoints. Additionally, this feedback
can enhance future interventions, programs, or research studies related to the topic.

7
7.2 RESPONDENT

This online questionnaire will be distributed only to 100 students at UITM Puncak
Perdana and is open to all levels of education, such as diploma, bachelor's degree, master
and PhD levels. Next, the respondent must have a valid qualification. The individual involved
must be a student registered under a course offered by two faculties, namely the Faculty of
Information Management and the Faculty of Film, Theater and Animation. To guarantee the
well-being and protection of respondents, the data obtained from them will be treated with
strict confidentiality. This means that any information in the survey will be kept private and
secure. The researchers will take measures to ensure that respondents' identities and
individual responses remain anonymous and cannot be linked back to them. By maintaining
confidentiality, the researchers aim to create a safe environment for respondents to share
their thoughts and experiences without fear of negative consequences or harm. It is crucial
to emphasise that the privacy and confidentiality of respondents' data are paramount and will
be upheld throughout the research process.

7.3 PROCEDURE

The survey used qualitative data, making it essential to assess students' sleep quality
at UITM Puncak Perdana. This process was crucial to obtaining the data to answer the study
topic successfully. Using Google Forms to build the online surveys ensured a well-designed
questionnaire that could extract the most information and details from the respondents. The
surveys were disseminated via various channels to reach a large audience, including
student-provided Google email accounts and well-known social media sites like WhatsApp,
Telegram, Instagram, and Facebook. After the data had been collected, a comprehensive
analysis would be carried out, and the findings would be summarised in light of the current
research topic.

8
REFERENCES

Watson, N. F., Badr, M. S., Belenky, G., Bliwise, D. L., Buxton, O. M., Buysse, D. J., Dinges,
D. F., Gangwisch, J. E., Grandner, M. A., Kushida, C. A., Malhotra, R., Martin, J. H.,
Patel, S. R., Quan, S. F., Tasali, E., Twery, M. J., Croft, J. B., Maher, E., Barrett, J. A.,
. . . Heald, J. L. (2015). Recommended Amount of Sleep for a Healthy Adult: A Joint
Consensus Statement of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and Sleep
Research Society. Sleep. https://doi.org/10.5665/sleep.4716

Lane, H., Chang, C., Huang, C., & Chang, Y. S. (2021). An Investigation into Smartphone
Addiction with Personality and Sleep Quality among University Students.
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(14), 7588.
https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18147588

De Araújo, M. F. M., De Freitas, R. W. J. F., Lima, A. C. S., Pereira, D. C. R., Zanetti, M. L.,
& Damasceno, M. M. C. (2014). Health indicators associated with poor sleep quality
among university students. Revista Da Escola De Enfermagem Da Usp, 48(6),
1085–1092. https://doi.org/10.1590/s0080-623420140000700017

Tan Abdullah, N., Radzuwan, R., & Ab Dini, M. (2020). RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN
SLEEPING QUALITY AND BEHAVIOURAL OUTCOMES OF UiTM SEREMBAN 3
STUDENTS. Journal Of Academia, 8(2), 67-75. doi:10.24191/joa.v8i2.10107