Hannah K Allen1, Angelica L Barrall2, Kathryn B Vincent2, Amelia M Arria2. 1. Methodology Center, Edna Bennett Pierce Prevention Research Center, Pennsylvania State University, 404 Health and Human Development Building, University Park, PA, 16802, USA. hka23@psu.edu. 2. Center on Young Adult Health and Development, Department of Behavioral and Community Health, University of Maryland, 4200 Valley Dr, #1234, College Park, MD, 20742, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: There are high levels of stress among graduate students, and stress is associated with multiple negative outcomes among student populations, including academic burnout. Sleep could play an important role in explaining the association between stress and burnout, but these relationships have not been explored among the graduate student population. The current study assessed whether or not sleep duration and quality moderated the relationship between stress and burnout (i.e., exhaustion, cynicism, and inefficacy) among graduate students. METHODS: A sample of 2683 master's, doctoral, and professional graduate students from two large, public universities completed an online survey. Linear regression models with interaction terms were developed to evaluate the relationships between stress and burnout while examining moderation by sleep duration and quality. RESULTS: Participants slept an average of 6.4 h per night, with 62% indicating good sleep quality. Stress had significant, positive relationships with exhaustion, cynicism, and inefficacy. The relationship between stress and exhaustion lessened as sleep duration increased, and the relationship between stress and exhaustion was weaker among students with good sleep quality when compared with those with poor sleep quality. Neither sleep duration nor sleep quality moderated the relationships between stress and cynicism or stress and inefficacy. CONCLUSIONS: Improving sleep habits has the potential to lessen the negative association between stress and graduate student functioning. Future research utilizing longitudinal designs is needed to understand the temporality of these associations and the influence of possible co-factors like individual propensity for mental health problems and social support.
BACKGROUND: There are high levels of stress among graduate students, and stress is associated with multiple negative outcomes among student populations, including academic burnout. Sleep could play an important role in explaining the association between stress and burnout, but these relationships have not been explored among the graduate student population. The current study assessed whether or not sleep duration and quality moderated the relationship between stress and burnout (i.e., exhaustion, cynicism, and inefficacy) among graduate students. METHODS: A sample of 2683 master's, doctoral, and professional graduate students from two large, public universities completed an online survey. Linear regression models with interaction terms were developed to evaluate the relationships between stress and burnout while examining moderation by sleep duration and quality. RESULTS: Participants slept an average of 6.4 h per night, with 62% indicating good sleep quality. Stress had significant, positive relationships with exhaustion, cynicism, and inefficacy. The relationship between stress and exhaustion lessened as sleep duration increased, and the relationship between stress and exhaustion was weaker among students with good sleep quality when compared with those with poor sleep quality. Neither sleep duration nor sleep quality moderated the relationships between stress and cynicism or stress and inefficacy. CONCLUSIONS: Improving sleep habits has the potential to lessen the negative association between stress and graduate student functioning. Future research utilizing longitudinal designs is needed to understand the temporality of these associations and the influence of possible co-factors like individual propensity for mental health problems and social support.
Authors: Liselotte N Dyrbye; Matthew R Thomas; F Stanford Massie; David V Power; Anne Eacker; William Harper; Steven Durning; Christine Moutier; Daniel W Szydlo; Paul J Novotny; Jeff A Sloan; Tait D Shanafelt Journal: Ann Intern Med Date: 2008-09-02 Impact factor: 25.391
Authors: Liselotte N Dyrbye; Colin P West; Daniel Satele; Sonja Boone; Litjen Tan; Jeff Sloan; Tait D Shanafelt Journal: Acad Med Date: 2014-03 Impact factor: 6.893