Irregular Sleep Patterns Linked to Poor Academic Performance in College Students
Do Irregular Sleep Patterns Affect Academic Performance in College Students?
Yes, significantly. This large study of college students found that those with irregular sleep-wake patterns had lower GPAs and delayed circadian timing compared to students with consistent sleep schedules. The relationship between sleep irregularity and poor academic performance was independent of total sleep duration, suggesting that when you sleep is as important as how much you sleep for cognitive performance and learning. Students with the most irregular patterns showed GPAs that were 0.65 points lower on average than those with regular sleep schedules.