COVID-19 Pandemic-Related Sleep and Mental Health Disparities among Students at a Hispanic and Minority-Serving Institution

Becerra, Monideepa B.; Gumasana, Rushil J.; Mitchell, Jasmine A.; Truong, Jeffrey Bao; Becerra, Benjamin J.

doi:10.3390/ijerph19116900

Open AccessArticle

COVID-19 Pandemic-Related Sleep and Mental Health Disparities among Students at a Hispanic and Minority-Serving Institution

by

Monideepa B. Becerra

^*

,

Rushil J. Gumasana

,

Jasmine A. Mitchell

,

Jeffrey Bao Truong

and

Benjamin J. Becerra

Center for Health Equity, California State University-San Bernardino, San Bernardino, CA 92407, USA

^*

Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(11), 6900; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19116900

Submission received: 24 March 2022 / Revised: 31 May 2022 / Accepted: 1 June 2022 / Published: 4 June 2022

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emergent Topics in Young Adult Health Disparities)

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Abstract

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted nearly all sectors of our population, including college students, who continue to share disproportionate rate of disparities. In this study, we aimed to identity key sleep health characteristics, including markers for obstructive sleep apnea, as well as its relation to mental health, physical health, and academic performance. Methods: A cross-sectional study design with online survey dissemination was used. Descriptive, bivariate, and multivariable binary logistic regression analyses were conducted among a predominantly minority population. Results: Results show that nearly 78% of the population reported that the pandemic impacted their mental or physical health, while over 83% reported daytime tiredness/fatigue/sleepiness, and another 61% reported sleeping less than seven hours during weekdays. Among other associations, pandemic-related poor sleep health, including sleeping less than seven hours, was associated with daytime tiredness/fatigue/sleepiness, psychological distress, as well as low mental health and physical health. A severe marker for obstructive sleep apnea, having stopped breathing during sleep, was also associated with psychological distress during the pandemic. Conclusions: Sleep health interventions are critical for optimizing college student health and well-being, including improving mental health outcomes.

Keywords: sleep health; mental health; COVID; pandemic; college students; young adults; minority serving institution; Hispanic serving institution

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MDPI and ACS Style

Becerra, M.B.; Gumasana, R.J.; Mitchell, J.A.; Truong, J.B.; Becerra, B.J. COVID-19 Pandemic-Related Sleep and Mental Health Disparities among Students at a Hispanic and Minority-Serving Institution. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19, 6900. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19116900

AMA Style

Becerra MB, Gumasana RJ, Mitchell JA, Truong JB, Becerra BJ. COVID-19 Pandemic-Related Sleep and Mental Health Disparities among Students at a Hispanic and Minority-Serving Institution. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2022; 19(11):6900. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19116900

Chicago/Turabian Style

Becerra, Monideepa B., Rushil J. Gumasana, Jasmine A. Mitchell, Jeffrey Bao Truong, and Benjamin J. Becerra. 2022. "COVID-19 Pandemic-Related Sleep and Mental Health Disparities among Students at a Hispanic and Minority-Serving Institution" International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 19, no. 11: 6900. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19116900

APA Style

Becerra, M. B., Gumasana, R. J., Mitchell, J. A., Truong, J. B., & Becerra, B. J. (2022). COVID-19 Pandemic-Related Sleep and Mental Health Disparities among Students at a Hispanic and Minority-Serving Institution. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(11), 6900. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19116900

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COVID-19 Pandemic-Related Sleep and Mental Health Disparities among Students at a Hispanic and Minority-Serving Institution

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