The Effects of Sleep Deprivation Among College
Students 2024 Case Study
,THE EFFECTS OF SLEEP DEPRIVATION AMONG COLLEGE STUDENTS
By
Paul Wesley
A Senior Paper Submitted to the
Department of Health, Leisure, and Sport Sciences
Oral Roberts University
In Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Degree
Of Bachelor of Science
Tulsa, Oklahoma
July 2024
, This Senior Paper is approved as a credible and independent investigation by a candidate
for the degree, Bachelor of Science, and is acceptable as meeting the research requirements for
this degree.
Senior Paper Advisor Date
Chairman of Health, Date
Leisure and Sports
Sciences Department
Defense Committee Member Date
i
, Abstract
Madison, CeCe R Consequences of sleep deprivation among college students. Oral Roberts University,
2019.
The purpose of this study was to examine the possible consequences of sleep deprivation among
college students.
Literature from thirty-two professional journal articles, and twelve professional websites were
reviewed. The resulting information was organized into categories as described in the purpose of the
study.
Currently, college students only receive 6-6.9 hours of sleep on average per night (University
Health Center, 2019). Seven or more hours of sleep a night has been recommended by the American
Academy of Sleep Medicine and Sleep Research Society to avoid the health risks shown to be associated
with chronic inadequate sleep (AASM, 2017). Lack of sleep showed an increased risk of experiencing
mental health symptoms by more than 20% on average (AASM, 2019). Without enough sleep, executive
function, academics, work, and daily life is impaired (National Sleep Foundation, 2019). Sleep also
plays a vital role in the recovery process in student-athletes as exercise depletes energy, fluids, and
breaks down muscle (National Sleep Foundation, 2019). Chen found students who suffered
sleeplessness during their senior year were 40% less likely to graduate, and those sleep deprived their
freshman and senior year were 25% less likely to graduate (Chen, 2019). Similarly, Heijden found
greater chronic sleep reduction and worse sleep quality were significant in the association with worse
academic achievement and study concentration (Heijden, 2017). Another study found that sleeping
patterns that slept twice every 24 hours, rather than sleeping once throughout the night or taking
multiple naps throughout the day, showed an increased pass percentage (87%) during midterms (Saeed,
2015). Slutsky found that sleep deprivation negatively affected simple tasks and decreased brain activity
ii
Students 2024 Case Study
,THE EFFECTS OF SLEEP DEPRIVATION AMONG COLLEGE STUDENTS
By
Paul Wesley
A Senior Paper Submitted to the
Department of Health, Leisure, and Sport Sciences
Oral Roberts University
In Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Degree
Of Bachelor of Science
Tulsa, Oklahoma
July 2024
, This Senior Paper is approved as a credible and independent investigation by a candidate
for the degree, Bachelor of Science, and is acceptable as meeting the research requirements for
this degree.
Senior Paper Advisor Date
Chairman of Health, Date
Leisure and Sports
Sciences Department
Defense Committee Member Date
i
, Abstract
Madison, CeCe R Consequences of sleep deprivation among college students. Oral Roberts University,
2019.
The purpose of this study was to examine the possible consequences of sleep deprivation among
college students.
Literature from thirty-two professional journal articles, and twelve professional websites were
reviewed. The resulting information was organized into categories as described in the purpose of the
study.
Currently, college students only receive 6-6.9 hours of sleep on average per night (University
Health Center, 2019). Seven or more hours of sleep a night has been recommended by the American
Academy of Sleep Medicine and Sleep Research Society to avoid the health risks shown to be associated
with chronic inadequate sleep (AASM, 2017). Lack of sleep showed an increased risk of experiencing
mental health symptoms by more than 20% on average (AASM, 2019). Without enough sleep, executive
function, academics, work, and daily life is impaired (National Sleep Foundation, 2019). Sleep also
plays a vital role in the recovery process in student-athletes as exercise depletes energy, fluids, and
breaks down muscle (National Sleep Foundation, 2019). Chen found students who suffered
sleeplessness during their senior year were 40% less likely to graduate, and those sleep deprived their
freshman and senior year were 25% less likely to graduate (Chen, 2019). Similarly, Heijden found
greater chronic sleep reduction and worse sleep quality were significant in the association with worse
academic achievement and study concentration (Heijden, 2017). Another study found that sleeping
patterns that slept twice every 24 hours, rather than sleeping once throughout the night or taking
multiple naps throughout the day, showed an increased pass percentage (87%) during midterms (Saeed,
2015). Slutsky found that sleep deprivation negatively affected simple tasks and decreased brain activity
ii
