How did adolescent students assess their sleep patterns, sleep hygiene, physical activity, and health during the COVID-19 pandemic? A look at the effects of gender and socioeconomic status

Abstract

The global COVID-19 pandemic brought about a significant lifestyle shift. This affected adolescent students, especially with online schooling. This study aims to explore adolescents' sleep patterns, sleep hygiene, physical activity, and their subjective perception of sleep quality and health during the COVID-19 pandemic. In February 2021, a cross-sectional study was conducted involving 332 students aged 15-18. The mean sleep duration of the adolescents was 8.7 (+/-.47) hours and they reported their subjective quality of sleep and perceived health as good. The mean scores of sleep hygiene were low for all participants. During the lockdown, the students had a sedentary lifestyle with about 50 of them not engaging in any form of physical activity. The results highlight the moderating role of gender (categorized as girl and boy corresponding to the gender-segregated school system) and socioeconomic status in the relationship between subjective sleep quality, sleep delay, physical activity, and perceived health in student adolescents.