Date of Graduation

5-2012

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy in Health Science (PhD)

Degree Level

Graduate

Department

Health, Human Performance and Recreation

Advisor/Mentor

Bart Hammig

Committee Member

Dean Gorman

Second Committee Member

Ches Jones

Third Committee Member

Wen-juo Lo

Keywords

Health and environmental sciences, Academic, Anxiety, College students, sleep disorder

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to determine the effects that anxiety disorders and sleep disorders have on students' academic performance. The prevalence of both disorders is rising in the college student population. This study examines those who have been physician diagnosed with the one or both of the disorders and how the students' grade point average (GPA) is affected.

The National College Health Assessment was used for data collection; this survey assesses college students' health habits, behaviors, and perceptions. The sample was comprised of 57 institutions representing every region in the U.S. totaling 34,208 participants. Data was acquired through questions asking if the student had been physician diagnosed with anxiety, physician diagnosed with a sleep disorder, and a question inquiring about the student's GPA.

An ordinal logistic regression was used to analyze the data. It was found that the comorbid condition of anxiety and sleep disorders, nor anxiety disorders were significant predictors of GPA. Sleep disorders were the only significant predictor for GPA, p < 0.0001, odds ratio of 1.28. Therefore a student with a sleeping disorder is 1.28 times more likely to receive a lower GPA than student who does not have a sleep disorder.

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