A study of sleep quality and stress on academic performance among undergraduate students in Malaysia

• Main Authors: Phang, Eyven Yee Man, Low, Heng Xiang, Ng, Jia Sheng
• Format: Final Year Project / Dissertation / Thesis
• Published: 2021
• Subjects: BF Psychology
• Online Access: http://eprints.utar.edu.my/4348/1/FYP_PY_EP_2021.pdf; http://eprints.utar.edu.my/4348/
• Institution: Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman

Previous studies examined whether sleep quality or stress is associated with low academic performance. Nonetheless, limited past studies discussed whether which variables contribute more towards their academic performance. Besides, there were inconsistent results on gender difference in the relationship between sleep quality and stress towards academic performance. Hence, the present study aimed to examine the relationship between sleep quality and stress on academic performance among undergraduate students in Malaysia. Furthermore, the present study also conducted to investigate whether gender played a significant role in the relationship between sleep quality and stress towards academic performance. In this quantitative and correlational research design, a sample of 384 undergraduate students in Malaysia (18–32 years; M=22.03; SD=1.634; Male=28.10%; Female=71.90%) were recruited through the convenience sampling method. The primary data was collected through an online survey method via Qualtrics. The key measures included Sleep Quality Scale and Perceived Stress Scale. The results indicated a significant, negative relationship with sleep quality, but not stress towards academic performance. Moreover, results indicate that there was a negative, significant relationship between both sleep quality and stress towards academic performance in females. The results revealed that sleep quality, but not stress significantly predicted undergraduate students’ academic performance. While sleep quality and stress affected females more in academic performance. The current study closed the research gap and contributed to this field’s research. Besides, the current study could serve as a wake-up call for university, society and undergraduate students on the factors that are more likely to influence academic performance.