Relationship between Sleep, Digital Usage and Emotional States in Thai Occupational Therapy Students

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Occupational imbalance of overloaded online education and sleep deprivation has been complained by Thai occupational therapy students (OTS) during the worldwide pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) e.g., feeling asleep in the classroom, inactive engagement in problem-based learning.

METHODS: This cross-sectional study aims to survey the OTS (n = 52 out of 128) regarding many standardized tools: smartphone addiction, internet addiction, sleep quality, sleep hygiene, and emotional states. Data analysis includes Pearson’s and Spearman’s rank-order correlations, Chi-square tests, and calculation of point prevalence rates.

RESULTS: A strong correlation of smartphone and internet addiction was found (r = 0.703, p < 0.001). Moderate correlations were addressed including sleep quality and smartphone addiction (r = 0.566), sleep quality and stress (r = 0.574), sleep quality depression (r = 0.554), and anxiety and smartphone addiction (r = 0.512). This study has reported point prevalence rates, such as 23.44% poor sleep quality, 17.96% smartphone addiction, and 7.81% anxiety.

CONCLUSION: The unwell sleep OTS are gaining comorbidities of smartphone and internet addiction and negative emotional states than those well sleep OTS. A restoration of occupational balance will be required for those poor sleep quality and anxiety.