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.

Impact of Online Teaching on State and Sleep Assessments after COVID-19

“…As known the non-judgmental and positive learning environment is not easily modi ed, the OTS should be developed professional competency with a minimum standard of clinical practices for 1,000 hours to the World Federation of Occupational Therapists (Occupational Therapy Clinical Education Program, 2017). However, state and sleep assessments have essentially been conducted for Thai OTS before going to those clinical practices since a previous study reported 23.44% and 7.81% for point prevalence rates of sleep quality and anxiety, respectively (Chatthong, Khemthong, & Rueankam, 2021).…”

“…Chatthong, Khemthong, & Rueankam, 2021). However, those outcomes could be additionally applied to the review paper of Constantinidis & Matsukura (2021) regarding how to deal with mental health problems in the OTS i.e., literacy and individual consultation for sleep and state assessments.…”