Freshman Student Sleep and Academic Stress Levels: An Empirical Study for Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Abstract
Receiving an adequate amount of sleep is essential for academic success as it prepares the brain each day for the workload ahead. Currently, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) does not have any form of sleep education or awareness for their first year, first-semester students, which leaves them susceptible to a cycle of sleep deprivation, academic underperformance, and stress. The goal of this empirical analysis is to identify the consequences of sleep deprivation, stress levels in current freshman ERAU students, and methods of sleep improvement. This report will be relayed to the Office of Undergraduate Advising of ERAU. Lack of sleep can burden students with mental health struggles, low-performance, and the inability to make rational decisions. Most individuals struggling with sleep deprivation are uneducated on the matter or have no support available to assist with breaking out of the cycle. To tap into the condition of current freshman ERAU students, a survey was conducted to record hours of sleep per school night, academic stress levels regarding workload, and sleep improvement recommendations of each survey participant based on college. Survey data establishes a correlation between lack of sleep and academic stress, especially in ERAU’s College of Engineering, and indicates the belief that education on the importance of sleep and university encouragement would improve the amount of sleep hours and stress. Therefore, the implementation of a University 101 sleep module, the establishment of a peer-mentor course intervention system, and the employment of the Student Government Association to promote better sleep habits would be the best course of action.
Freshman Student Sleep and Academic Stress Levels: An Empirical Study for Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Receiving an adequate amount of sleep is essential for academic success as it prepares the brain each day for the workload ahead. Currently, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) does not have any form of sleep education or awareness for their first year, first-semester students, which leaves them susceptible to a cycle of sleep deprivation, academic underperformance, and stress. The goal of this empirical analysis is to identify the consequences of sleep deprivation, stress levels in current freshman ERAU students, and methods of sleep improvement. This report will be relayed to the Office of Undergraduate Advising of ERAU. Lack of sleep can burden students with mental health struggles, low-performance, and the inability to make rational decisions. Most individuals struggling with sleep deprivation are uneducated on the matter or have no support available to assist with breaking out of the cycle. To tap into the condition of current freshman ERAU students, a survey was conducted to record hours of sleep per school night, academic stress levels regarding workload, and sleep improvement recommendations of each survey participant based on college. Survey data establishes a correlation between lack of sleep and academic stress, especially in ERAU’s College of Engineering, and indicates the belief that education on the importance of sleep and university encouragement would improve the amount of sleep hours and stress. Therefore, the implementation of a University 101 sleep module, the establishment of a peer-mentor course intervention system, and the employment of the Student Government Association to promote better sleep habits would be the best course of action.