Impact of Sleep Quality, Sleep Disturbances on Quality of Life Among Medical Students Worldwide: A Narrative Review
Аннотация
Sleep is a fundamental biological process essential for physical health, cognitive performance, and psychological well-being. Medical students represent a particularly vulnerable population for sleep disturbances due to demanding academic workloads, irregular schedules, psychological stress, and lifestyle-related factors. This narrative review synthesizes current evidence regarding the prevalence of sleep disorders among medical students, the key risk factors contributing to impaired sleep quality, and the resulting impact on multiple domains of quality of life, including physical health, mental well-being, cognitive function, academic performance, and social functioning. A comprehensive literature search was conducted across PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, and eLIBRARY.ru for peer-reviewed studies published between 2010 and 2025. The available literature consistently demonstrates a high prevalence of poor sleep quality among medical students, frequently exceeding 60%, with strong associations with anxiety, depression, burnout, reduced academic performance, and diminished overall quality of life. Early identification through validated screening tools and implementation of institutional interventions, including sleep health education and counseling, may be beneficial strategies to help mitigate potential long-term health and professional consequences.