Bad nights of sleep, overburdened life: the interface between sleep and quality of life in dentistry

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the relationship between sleep quality and quality of life of dentistry students at a private university in the city of Imperatriz, Maranhão. Methods: A cross-sectional, quantitative, descriptive, and exploratory study was conducted with 146 dentistry students from Ceuma University, Imperatriz, Maranhão campus, in the first semester of 2025. Students of both sexes, over 18 years of age, and regularly enrolled were included. Data collection was carried out through an identification questionnaire, an adapted habitual physical activity questionnaire, and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Results: The majority of participants were female (79.5%), aged between 18 and 21 years (50%). It was observed that 52.7% practiced physical activity, with weight training being the predominant modality (58.2%). Regarding sleep, the most common time to go to bed was midnight (27.4%), and 45.9% took up to 30 minutes to fall asleep. Although 54.8% rated their sleep as good, 26.7% reported significant interference with daytime activities. Conclusion: Although many students consider their sleep satisfactory, insufficient quality directly impacts academic performance and well-being. The need for intervention strategies to improve sleep in the university setting is highlighted.