Sleep Quality and Sleep Habits Among Female College Students: A Cross-Sectional Study

Objective: Sleep is a state of physical and mental rest and is a major focus of chronobiological research. This study aimed to assess sleep quality in relation to sleep habits among young female college students in their daily routine. Methods: This was a cross-sectional, observational, questionnaire-based study. Participants (n=1,186; age [mean±SE]: 19.08±0.05 years) were randomly selected from undergraduate and postgraduate female students in Raipur, Chhattisgarh, India. They completed the Munich Chronotype Questionnaire, Morningness–Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQ), and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index to record sleep–wake behaviors, chronotype, and sleep quality. Results: One-way analysis of variance revealed a significant group difference in bedtime and MEQ score. The Mann–Whitney U test showed significantly earlier mean bedtime, wake time, and midsleep time in the good sleep quality group compared to the poor sleep quality group. Pearson’s correlation indicated that delayed bedtime and evening chronotype were associated with poor sleep quality. Binary logistic regression identified late bedtime, late wake time, internet usage, and irregular menstrual cycles as significant predictors of poor sleep quality. Conclusion: To promote good sleep quality and a morning chronotype, students should maintain early bed and wake times. Raising awareness of sleep hygiene, circadian rhythms, and the impact of sleep on health and academic performance is essential for this population.