Impact of lifestyle and psychological factors on low sleep quality among university students in Malaysia

Foo, Ashley Siew Chin and Yang, Chun (2026) Impact of lifestyle and psychological factors on low sleep quality among university students in Malaysia. Final Year Project, UTAR.

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Abstract

Sleep quality is an important element of our everyday physical health, cognitive performance, and emotional well-being, especially for university students. However, poor sleep quality has become more common among Malaysian university students as a result of their diverse lifestyle habits and psychological demands. Despite the rising volume of research on sleep, there is a scarcity of studies that investigate the combined impact of lifestyle and psychological factors in the Malaysian setting. To address these gaps, this study focuses on three major factors that may influence poor sleep quality: screen time, caffeine use, and stress levels. A quantitative study approach was used, and data were gathered by a self-administered online survey given to Malaysian university students using Google Forms. A total of 400 responses were received, but only 384 valid responses were used in the data analysis. The data were analysed with the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), which included descriptive, reliability, preliminary, and inferential analyses including multiple regression. The findings show that a significant majority of students had moderate or poor sleep quality. Among the independent factors, screen use and stress levels were found to have a significant positive relationship on poor sleep quality, with stress being the most powerful predictor. In contrast, caffeine consumption had no statistically significant effect. These data imply that psychological and behavioural aspects are more important in regulating sleep quality than lifestyle consumption behaviours alone. By identifying the key determinants of poor sleep quality, this study helps universities, healthcare professionals, and policymakers design effective interventions, such as stress management programs and digital wellness initiatives, to improve students' sleep quality, academic performance, and overall well-being.

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