Sleep health and its correlates among male and female military recruits in Jordan: a cross-sectional study
Abstract Introduction Determining sleep quality and duration and the factors influencing the quality of sleep among the military is crucial for designing effective interventions. Given the strict and demanding nature of the military setting, it becomes essential to explore factors impacting sleep qu...
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2025-02-01
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-21455-7 |
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| author | Ahmad M. Malkawi Stef P. J. Kremers Ree M. Meertens |
| author_facet | Ahmad M. Malkawi Stef P. J. Kremers Ree M. Meertens |
| author_sort | Ahmad M. Malkawi |
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| description | Abstract Introduction Determining sleep quality and duration and the factors influencing the quality of sleep among the military is crucial for designing effective interventions. Given the strict and demanding nature of the military setting, it becomes essential to explore factors impacting sleep quality in such a context. Additionally, research in the Middle East and among females on this subject is scarce. This study aims to investigate sleep quality and different sleep-related variables such as sleep duration and sleep hygiene practices in addition to the correlates of sleep quality among recruits. Methods This is a cross-sectional study that included 178 (Mean age = 19 years) military recruits during their basic training at two medical military colleges in Jordan. Sleep quality and sleep hygiene practices were assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Sleep Hygiene Index (SHI) respectively. Physical activity and dietary behaviors were measured using the Arab Teens Lifestyle Study (ATLS). Results The majority of recruits demonstrated poor sleep quality (80%) and suboptimal sleep hygiene practices (mean SHI = 21) with significantly poorer sleep hygiene practices among male recruits. The average duration of actual sleeping hours per day was around 6 h (± 2.3 h). Multiple regression analysis showed that age and SHI score were positively associated with the global sleep quality score (PSQI), while sleep knowledge score was negatively associated with sleep quality among the whole sample (adjusted R 2 = 0.11). However, the association between sleep hygiene practices and sleep quality was not modified by gender. Conclusions Jordanian military recruits on average had short sleep duration and poor sleep quality. Results showed that better sleep hygiene practices (especially among women) and more sleep knowledge (particularly among men) were associated with better sleep quality. Interventions that use cognitive and behavioral change methods to promote sleep hygiene and improve sleep knowledge are recommended to improve sleep quality among military recruits. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-71d57b2d8bcf47788b5739b087c70795 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
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| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-71d57b2d8bcf47788b5739b087c707952025-02-02T12:46:03ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582025-02-0125111110.1186/s12889-025-21455-7Sleep health and its correlates among male and female military recruits in Jordan: a cross-sectional studyAhmad M. Malkawi0Stef P. J. Kremers1Ree M. Meertens2Department of Health Promotion, Institute of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism (NUTRIM), Maastricht University Medical Center+Department of Health Promotion, Institute of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism (NUTRIM), Maastricht University Medical Center+Department of Health Promotion, Institute of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism (NUTRIM), Maastricht University Medical Center+Abstract Introduction Determining sleep quality and duration and the factors influencing the quality of sleep among the military is crucial for designing effective interventions. Given the strict and demanding nature of the military setting, it becomes essential to explore factors impacting sleep quality in such a context. Additionally, research in the Middle East and among females on this subject is scarce. This study aims to investigate sleep quality and different sleep-related variables such as sleep duration and sleep hygiene practices in addition to the correlates of sleep quality among recruits. Methods This is a cross-sectional study that included 178 (Mean age = 19 years) military recruits during their basic training at two medical military colleges in Jordan. Sleep quality and sleep hygiene practices were assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Sleep Hygiene Index (SHI) respectively. Physical activity and dietary behaviors were measured using the Arab Teens Lifestyle Study (ATLS). Results The majority of recruits demonstrated poor sleep quality (80%) and suboptimal sleep hygiene practices (mean SHI = 21) with significantly poorer sleep hygiene practices among male recruits. The average duration of actual sleeping hours per day was around 6 h (± 2.3 h). Multiple regression analysis showed that age and SHI score were positively associated with the global sleep quality score (PSQI), while sleep knowledge score was negatively associated with sleep quality among the whole sample (adjusted R 2 = 0.11). However, the association between sleep hygiene practices and sleep quality was not modified by gender. Conclusions Jordanian military recruits on average had short sleep duration and poor sleep quality. Results showed that better sleep hygiene practices (especially among women) and more sleep knowledge (particularly among men) were associated with better sleep quality. Interventions that use cognitive and behavioral change methods to promote sleep hygiene and improve sleep knowledge are recommended to improve sleep quality among military recruits.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-21455-7Sleep qualitySleep hygieneCorrelatesJordanMilitary |
| spellingShingle | Ahmad M. Malkawi Stef P. J. Kremers Ree M. Meertens Sleep health and its correlates among male and female military recruits in Jordan: a cross-sectional study BMC Public Health Sleep quality Sleep hygiene Correlates Jordan Military |
| title | Sleep health and its correlates among male and female military recruits in Jordan: a cross-sectional study |
| title_full | Sleep health and its correlates among male and female military recruits in Jordan: a cross-sectional study |
| title_fullStr | Sleep health and its correlates among male and female military recruits in Jordan: a cross-sectional study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Sleep health and its correlates among male and female military recruits in Jordan: a cross-sectional study |
| title_short | Sleep health and its correlates among male and female military recruits in Jordan: a cross-sectional study |
| title_sort | sleep health and its correlates among male and female military recruits in jordan a cross sectional study |
| topic | Sleep quality Sleep hygiene Correlates Jordan Military |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-21455-7 |
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