Modeling the predictors of sleep quality in emerging adults: A guide to reducing health disparities across the lifespan

Background: The status of Americans' sleep in the general is poor, however limited literature describes the emerging adult population's sleep patterns. Existing literature has shown that in past decades the sleep of youth transitioning into adulthood, such as college students, is diminishing in quality and quantity. Additionally, poor sleep has been shown to impact health disparities across the lifespan. The purpose of this study was to develop a model of demographic, behavioral, and health status predictors of sleep quality in the population.

Methods: Two dozen variables were measured by the American College Health Association's National College Health Assessment-II. Participants consisted of 762 traditional undergraduate students enrolled at a large Midwestern university. Structural equation modeling was conducted to determine if survey data supported the proposed causal model for sleep quality or described an alternate model.

Results: SEM results indicated a good fit model with six observed sleep quality indicators identifying two related constructs of sleep quality, sleep quality somnolence and sleep quality insomnia, which were predicted by gender, poor general health, high stress, sleep diagnosis, frequency of binge drinking, and anxiety or depression diagnosis.

Discussion: Findings resulted in the conclusion that university health promotion and education should indeed address sleep quality, and best practices to do so may focus on overall wellness, stress reduction, and reduction of binge drinking with special focus on females and individuals diagnosed with sleep disorders, anxiety, and depression. Doing so may reduce negative health outcomes for youth as they transition into adulthood and throughout the lifespan.