Understanding Sleep Disorders in a College Student Population

Abstract

College students' sleep habits are changing dramatically. and related sleep problems are increasing.The author reviews the current literature on sleep problems, focusing on the college student population.An explanation of the basics of sleep is provided as a base for understanding sleep disorders.The unique challenges of college settings are discussed as they apply to understanding sleep problems, and suggestions are made for professionals who work with college students. unian beings will spend approximately one third of their lives in a sleep state, and sleep has been shown to be essential for the rnainte-H nance of mental health. Sleep problems of college students, especially full-time students who are experiencing high levels of stress because of the demands of academic performance, present an intriguing topic for examination. Unfortunately, relatively little research has focused on this group of individuals. Most studies have focused instead on young children or older adults. Because college counselors come into contact with clients who experience disordered sleep, I address this concern by first reviewing the literature on college students and their sleep problems and then discussing implications for college counselors who work with students who are experiencing such difficulties.Sleep problems and disorders have shown a marked increase since serious study of the topic began in the 1950s (Carskadon & Taylor, 1997). In 1993, the National Commission on Sleep Disorders Research submitted an executive report to Congress detailing the results of a comprehensive research investigation. The report examined the then-current state of knowledge about sleep disorders, including the economic and social impact of such problems.The findings indicated that approximately 40 million U.S. residents suffer from primary chronic sleep disorders and that millions more experience at least recurring or intermittent sleep problems. Projective statistics indicated that by the year 2010,79 million Americans will be affected by sleeping problems, and 40 million will suffer excessive sleepiness. Findings also pointed to extremely high economic and social costs of sleep disorders, as well as serious gaps in the research. It is not difficult to imagine that college students on campuses across the nation will also continue to experience unique difficulties as sleep problems of students increase. The literature that I review throughout this article supports that presumption.

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