Dysfunctional sleep beliefs and sleep quality among Chinese university students: the mediating roles of depression, anxiety, and stress
Abstract Background Sleep problems faced by college students have become an important global health issue that requires immediate attention. This study investigates the relationship between dysfunctional beliefs and attitudes about sleep (DBAS) and sleep quality among college students, with a focus...
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BMC
2025-07-01
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| Series: | BMC Psychology |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-025-03210-0 |
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| author | Peisi Wang Chun Xie Jiali Qian Shaobo Cai Lei Xu Xianyong Jiang Guozhuang Chen Kun Wang |
| author_facet | Peisi Wang Chun Xie Jiali Qian Shaobo Cai Lei Xu Xianyong Jiang Guozhuang Chen Kun Wang |
| author_sort | Peisi Wang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Sleep problems faced by college students have become an important global health issue that requires immediate attention. This study investigates the relationship between dysfunctional beliefs and attitudes about sleep (DBAS) and sleep quality among college students, with a focus on examining the mediating effects of anxiety, stress, and depression in this relationship. Methods A cross-sectional design was employed, with data collected through a survey conducted from January to March 2024 among Chinese university students. The survey evaluated DBAS, anxiety, depression, stress, and sleep quality. Descriptive statistics and correlation analysis were performed using SPSS 27.0, subsequently applying PROCESS models (Model 4 and Model 6) to develop parallel and chain mediation models. Results A total of 864 valid responses were retained, comprising 629 male participants (72.8%) and 235 female participants (27.2%), with ages ranging from 16 to 23 years (M = 18.8, SD = 1.0). The findings demonstrated that DBAS negatively predicted sleep quality (B = − 0.15, 95% CI [− 0.20, − 0.09]). Anxiety (B = − 0.03, 95% CI [− 0.06, − 0.01]) and stress (B = − 0.05, 95% CI [− 0.08, − 0.02]) performed as parallel mediators in the association between DBAS and sleep quality. Furthermore, DBAS influenced sleep quality indirectly through the chain mediation of anxiety and stress (β = −0.04, 95% CI [− 0.07, − 0.02]). Conclusions DBAS has a direct negative impact on sleep quality and affects it indirectly through the parallel mediation of anxiety and stress. Additionally, DBAS may indirectly influence sleep quality through the chain-mediating effects of anxiety and stress. The study highlights the significance of addressing DBAS, as it directly affects students’ emotional well-being and sleep quality. Future research should concentrate on creating targeted interventions to reduce DBAS, thus enhancing emotional health and sleep quality in university students. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-b8e70865cf9f46f9a09aa0838c00d0a7 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2050-7283 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Psychology |
| spelling | doaj-art-b8e70865cf9f46f9a09aa0838c00d0a72025-08-20T04:02:41ZengBMCBMC Psychology2050-72832025-07-0113111210.1186/s40359-025-03210-0Dysfunctional sleep beliefs and sleep quality among Chinese university students: the mediating roles of depression, anxiety, and stressPeisi Wang0Chun Xie1Jiali Qian2Shaobo Cai3Lei Xu4Xianyong Jiang5Guozhuang Chen6Kun Wang7Department of Physical Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong UniversityDepartment of Physical Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong UniversityDepartment of Physical Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong UniversityDepartment of Physical Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong UniversityDepartment of Physical Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong UniversityDepartment of Physical Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong UniversityDepartment of Physical Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong UniversityDepartment of Physical Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong UniversityAbstract Background Sleep problems faced by college students have become an important global health issue that requires immediate attention. This study investigates the relationship between dysfunctional beliefs and attitudes about sleep (DBAS) and sleep quality among college students, with a focus on examining the mediating effects of anxiety, stress, and depression in this relationship. Methods A cross-sectional design was employed, with data collected through a survey conducted from January to March 2024 among Chinese university students. The survey evaluated DBAS, anxiety, depression, stress, and sleep quality. Descriptive statistics and correlation analysis were performed using SPSS 27.0, subsequently applying PROCESS models (Model 4 and Model 6) to develop parallel and chain mediation models. Results A total of 864 valid responses were retained, comprising 629 male participants (72.8%) and 235 female participants (27.2%), with ages ranging from 16 to 23 years (M = 18.8, SD = 1.0). The findings demonstrated that DBAS negatively predicted sleep quality (B = − 0.15, 95% CI [− 0.20, − 0.09]). Anxiety (B = − 0.03, 95% CI [− 0.06, − 0.01]) and stress (B = − 0.05, 95% CI [− 0.08, − 0.02]) performed as parallel mediators in the association between DBAS and sleep quality. Furthermore, DBAS influenced sleep quality indirectly through the chain mediation of anxiety and stress (β = −0.04, 95% CI [− 0.07, − 0.02]). Conclusions DBAS has a direct negative impact on sleep quality and affects it indirectly through the parallel mediation of anxiety and stress. Additionally, DBAS may indirectly influence sleep quality through the chain-mediating effects of anxiety and stress. The study highlights the significance of addressing DBAS, as it directly affects students’ emotional well-being and sleep quality. Future research should concentrate on creating targeted interventions to reduce DBAS, thus enhancing emotional health and sleep quality in university students.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-025-03210-0Dysfunctional beliefs and attitudes about sleepSleep qualityAnxietyStressCollege student |
| spellingShingle | Peisi Wang Chun Xie Jiali Qian Shaobo Cai Lei Xu Xianyong Jiang Guozhuang Chen Kun Wang Dysfunctional sleep beliefs and sleep quality among Chinese university students: the mediating roles of depression, anxiety, and stress BMC Psychology Dysfunctional beliefs and attitudes about sleep Sleep quality Anxiety Stress College student |
| title | Dysfunctional sleep beliefs and sleep quality among Chinese university students: the mediating roles of depression, anxiety, and stress |
| title_full | Dysfunctional sleep beliefs and sleep quality among Chinese university students: the mediating roles of depression, anxiety, and stress |
| title_fullStr | Dysfunctional sleep beliefs and sleep quality among Chinese university students: the mediating roles of depression, anxiety, and stress |
| title_full_unstemmed | Dysfunctional sleep beliefs and sleep quality among Chinese university students: the mediating roles of depression, anxiety, and stress |
| title_short | Dysfunctional sleep beliefs and sleep quality among Chinese university students: the mediating roles of depression, anxiety, and stress |
| title_sort | dysfunctional sleep beliefs and sleep quality among chinese university students the mediating roles of depression anxiety and stress |
| topic | Dysfunctional beliefs and attitudes about sleep Sleep quality Anxiety Stress College student |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-025-03210-0 |
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