Graduation Year
2026
Department or Program Chair
Kelly Newhouse, MS, PA-C
Department
Physician Assistant Studies
Faculty Advisor
Michaela F. George, PhD, MPH
Degree Name
Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies
Abstract
We spend approximately one third of our life time sleeping or attempting to sleep. The quality of our sleep is equally, if not more important than the amount of sleep we get. This study assesses the effects that medications, specifically antidepressants, can have on sleep quality in Dominican University of California students. 118 participants completed a Qualtrics survey including questions regarding stress, sleep quality, medication lists, and demographics. This study utilized the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) to quantify participants’ sleep quality as the outcome. Participant stress levels were assessed with a Likert scale question asking for stress levels on a scale from one to six. Participants were also asked questions regarding antidepressant medications and questions regarding use of two additional groups of non-antidepressant medications. SPSS version 3.1 software was used to perform T-test, ANOVA with TukeyHSD, and linear regression. Participants who take antidepressants have worse sleep quality than those who do not take antidepressants, however, among students who reported antidepressant medication use, there is not a significant difference in sleep quality between different types of antidepressants taken. Further research that includes a larger and more diverse population size is needed to investigate how academic stressors influence antidepressant use and sleep quality.
Included in
Medical Pharmacology Commons, Other Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences Commons, Other Psychiatry and Psychology Commons, Psychiatry Commons, Sleep Medicine Commons