Prevalence of insomnia and relationship with depression, anxiety and stress among Jazan University students: A cross-sectional study

Insomnia, a common sleep disorder, is a public health concern, as it can lead to physical and mental exhaustion. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of insomnia and the common associated risk factors among students at Jazan University, in the Jazan region of southwestern Saudi Arabia. An observational cross-sectional study was conducted among a sample of 712 students. A pre-designed, structured questionnaire was used to collect the relevant information pertaining to the study variables. The overall prevalence of insomnia in the study was 19.3%. There was no significant difference in prevalence between males and females (p-value = 0.5). Participants from health colleges had greater prevalence of insomnia than those from art and Islamic colleges and science colleges (p-value = 0.03). Symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress were significant risk factors for insomnia (p-value = 0.005, 0.000, 0.000, respectively). Insomnia is widely prevalent among Jazan University students. Symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress, together with a noisy environment around the sleeping area, are important correlates. Screening for mental illnesses among university students is highly recommended