Development of a University Campus Healthy Sleep Promotion Program

ABSTRACT

This article provides a preliminary evaluation of a campus sleep health program for undergraduate university students. In this study, 5 focus groups with 38 undergraduates assessed perceptions about sleep in relationship to college experiences. Additionally, 35 undergraduate students participated in campus sleep improvement workshops, and completed a brief self-report survey before and after the workshop. Results showed five themes emerged from focus groups: (a) Sleep and its impact on academics, (b) Understanding of the importance of sleep, (c) Procrastination and its impact on sleep, (d) Stress, and (e) Sleep and extracurricular/social activities. Based on self-report surveys, there was no improvement in perceived sleep importance, but perceived sleep confidence of undergraduate student-participants increased significantly after the workshop. The sleep health program for undergraduates showed promising results, and should be evaluated using a larger, more rigorous design in future studies.

Acknowledgments

This study received support from the University of Miami Citizen's Board and the Center of Excellence for Health Disparities Research: El Centro, National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities grant P60MD002266 (Victoria B. Mitrani, Principle Investigator). Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.

Additional information

Funding

National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities P60MD002266.