Plasma cortisol levels in Brazilians college students with poor sleep quality

Abstract

Aim

To investigate the association between sleep quality in Brazilian university students and plasma cortisol levels.

Method

A cross-sectional study conducted with 688 university students assessing sociodemographic indicators, quality of sleep and cortisol levels. We used Poisson robust regression to assess the association.

Results

Approximately 95% and 7% of the sample showed poor sleep quality and high levels of cortisol, respectively. These lingered 16-30 minutes to fall asleeep (p = 0.030), with 65-74% efficiency (p = 0.021) and greater workload those with normal levels of cortisol (p = 0.021). The chances of a college student, with high plasma cortisol levels, to present poor sleep quality were similar to good sleepers and with no significant statistical significance (p = 0.124).

Conclusion

There was no statistically significant association between plasma cortisol levels of and quality of sleep in college students.

Keywords:
sleep disorders; students; young adult; hydrocortisone