Correlation between sleep quality and academic performance among Nigerian students

Background: Sleep is essential for cognitive processes, yet students often sacrifice rest for academic gain. While a few studies have attempted to understand the impact of sleep quality on academic performance, the relationship between both remains underexplored, especially in Nigeria.

Objectives: (1) To determine the relationship between sleep quality and academic performance, and (2) to identify other factors (socio-economic) that influence students’ academic performance.

Materials/Methods: This cross-sectional study utilized a structured online questionnaire to survey 448 undergraduate students across diverse states in Nigeria. Sleep quality was assessed using a derived score that considered both duration of sleep and perceived restfulness. Data was analysed using Pearson’s Chi-square tests and independent samples t-tests. Significance was set at p < 0.05

Results: The analysis revealed no statistically significant relationship between sleep quality and academic performance (χ² = 7.838, p = 0.645). A trend from an independent sample t-test suggested that poor sleepers likely achieved better scores (Mean = 2.25) than good sleepers (Mean = 2.44). However, this was not statistically significant (p = 0.064). Regarding other factors, only the university level (χ² = 56.363, p < 0.001) and course of study (χ² = 20.417, p = 0.001) were found to be significant determinants of academic performance.

Conclusion: While sleep quality may be important for every student, it is likely not the principal determinant of academic performance. The findings suggest a resilience among high-achieving students that enables them to maintain good grades despite poor sleep habits.