You have just finished reading a chapter of the text book but you still have 2 more to go. It was 2 am now and tomorrow is the exam. It seems like tonight you would not be getting any sleep.
This scenario seems familiar to many student especially university students. Inevitably, during the exam period many of us will have to sacrifice our sleep time to mug for the upcoming exam. Perhaps some will think it is okay to sleep less for only a period of time as long as in the other times, we have adequate sleep. However, it is unknown that if generally the university students are getting less sleep than they should. Researches have been done in NUS on the effect of stress but very little/if any have been done to investigate on what is the proportion of tertiary students getting insufficient sleep and the consequence of such practice. (The research question)
Sleep is defined as “A natural periodic state of rest for the mind and body…”[1]
On average, most adults need 7 to 8 hrs of sleep but some may need more (10hrs) or less (5hrs).[2][3] Lack of sleep may cause many problems like reduced concentration, hand-eye coordination, ability to carry out math calculations, impaired memory and even hallucinations and mood swings (If one continue to be deprived of sleep)[2][4] and is generally bad for our mental and physical health.
Thus, it would be useful if a survey is done to find out how much sleep is the students in NUS is getting and whether they are being sleep-deprived. Now and then we have heard of students complaining about not having sufficient sleep and we have also seen quite a number of people falling asleep in lectures. This survey can thus prove or debunk the general assumption that (most)students are not having enough time for sleep. Following the results of the survey, advice would be given in the report regarding the importance of sleep and inform students of the adverse effect of sleep-deprivation. Suggestions gathered from the surveyed may also be reflected to the school if most of the students feel that their lack of sleep is due to too heavy study workload.
As such, more attention can be given to this much neglected problem of sleep deprivation of students.[5]
References
1. From http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=sleep&r=66
“A natural periodic state of rest for the mind and body…, in which the eyes usually close and consciousness is completely or partially lost, so that there is a decrease in bodily movement and responsiveness to external stimuli. During sleep the brain in humans and other mammals undergoes a characteristic cycle of brain-wave activity that includes intervals of dreaming.”
2. From National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, Brain Basics: Understanding Sleep, http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/brain_basics/understanding_sleep.htm
3. Although the amount of sleep needed is varied among individuals, “Experts say that if you feel drowsy during the day, even during boring activities, you haven't had enough sleep. If you routinely fall asleep within 5 minutes of lying down, you probably have severe sleep deprivation, possibly even a sleep disorder. Microsleeps, or very brief episodes of sleep in an otherwise awake person, are another mark of sleep deprivation.” In addition to this, “the amount of sleep a person needs also increases if he or she has been deprived of sleep in previous days. Getting too little sleep creates a "sleep debt," which is much like being overdrawn at a bank. Eventually, your body will demand that the debt be repaid. We don't seem to adapt to getting less sleep than we need; while we may get used to a sleep-depriving schedule, our judgment, reaction time, and other functions are still impaired. ”[2 ]
4. Other that the adverse effects mentioned above, it also will affect growth and for repair of body (‘Deep sleep may truly be "beauty sleep." ’) and less than optimal ability in emotional and social functioning that require emotional control, decision-making, and social interactions. [2]
5. Actually the Singapore Neurology and Sleep Centre, had conducted the Teen Sleep Survey in 2007 on the amount of sleep secondary school students in Singapore have. The results is that “80 per cent of them are getting less than eight hours of sleep on school days, while only 2.6 per cent are getting the recommended nine hours.” However, the situation with tertiary students (eg in NUS) might be even worse since the studies is more demanding and parents have less control over their child’s sleeping habits.
From Asiaone-health, SleepLESS in Singapore, http://www.asiaone.com/Health/Wellness%2B%2540%2BWork/Story/A1Story20070625-15642.html
Pictures from http://www.astro.caltech.edu/~lah/emma/Images/Shots_of_Emma/Smiling_in_sleep.jpg
4 comments:
Hello Yuanlin!
I totally agree with you that this is a major problem in many of our lives. I believe that this happens not only when we have things to study or homework to complete, sometimes, even during holidays we tend to have insufficient sleep. Perhaps due to surfing the net, talking on the phone, clubbing, pubbing, watching tv etc...
If you manage to come up with a solution, I would be very grateful! I also tend to have insufficient sleep. I wonder is it because of unilife or beacuse this is something that every one will experience. I have friends in the working world who are surviving on a 3-hour sleep per day routine. Especially bankers, who tend to have long working hours, they start work early in the money, but can work all the way till wee hours of the morning...
I know that sleep is very important, and enough sleep kees us young, and prolongs our lives... Hence, you have a great research topic!!! ;D
Hey Yuan Lin, I have experienced this problem since my secondary school days especially during my time in NUS. Sleep is always a luxury during exam periods. I have to agree that this is a major problem for most of us especially for students.
I always sacrifice my sleep for the extra bit of time to finish up the chapter. Generally NUS students tend to sleep less during the exam period. This is evident as libraries are packed to the brim during night time.
There are lot or problems due to lack of sleep. I need at least 8 hours of sleep every day just to keep myself awake during lectures. Lack of sleep is hazardous to health. It creates many problems like reduced concentration, hand-eye coordination, ability to carry out math calculations, impaired memory and even hallucinations and mood swings as stated by Yuan Lin in her blog.
Hello Yuanlin,
I think you pointed out a very familiar issue.. not only to a NUS student, but probably for many other people as well :)
I personally feel that sleep deprivation can be combated by proper time management. It may seem impossible for some people, but why is it that other people can get enough sleep but not them?
I believe that most NUS students are not sleep deprived because they are from NUS. They are usually occupied by activites that all young people engage in, like computer games, clubbing, partying, hall activities, shopping, watching tv. Hence addressing the problem that NUS students are sleep deprived might not present such a strong case because the factors of sleep deprivation are not merely because of studying, but many other things.
:)
In any way, it is definitely a problem because when students are in need of sleep, they use the time during lectures or tutorials to do so, which obviously is a bad thing ;) Hopefully by educating them and constantly reminding the students about the adverse effects of sleep deprivation can alleviate the effects of this problem!
Hi Yuanlin,
I think this is a really interesting topic because I'm really interested in topics on health, holistic living and human mind and body. There are many works discussing about the optimal number of sleep a person should get and most of them are saying that we are not getting enough rest in general.
I agree with you that with our current hectic lifestyle, it is difficult to have sufficient rest. I have a friend who sleeps for about 4 hours a night since Secondary School and I'm really worried for his health. I hope your survey will prompt the school authority to organise some talks and courses on the importance of 'sleep'.
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