Insomnia Prevalence and Risk Factors Among Hispanic University Staff: A Cross-Sectional Study

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5195/ijms.2023.2814

Keywords:

Insomnia, Risk factors, university, Sleep Disorders, prevalence, sleep quality, occupational health, university staff, Workplace stress, Light exposure

Abstract

Background:
Insomnia, characterized by difficulty initiating or maintaining sleep, is a common condition that adversely affects health, productivity, and overall well-being. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and associated risk factors of insomnia among Hispanic university staff at a higher education institution in Ecuador.

Methods:
A cross-sectional study was conducted between August 2023 and February 2024, including 385 university employees. Participants completed an anonymous survey collecting demographic, lifestyle, occupational, and sleep-related data. Sleep quality and insomnia severity were assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Spearman correlations, logistic regression, and Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis to identify predictors of clinically significant insomnia (ISI > 14).

Results:
The prevalence of insomnia was 65.2%, with mean PSQI and ISI scores of 8.8 ± 5 and 11.5 ± 7, respectively. Severe insomnia affected 2.9% of participants. Higher insomnia scores were significantly correlated with workplace stress, workload, ethnicity, light exposure during sleep, and use of insomnia medication. Logistic regression identified workplace stress and light exposure as the strongest predictors of insomnia. ROC analysis indicated workplace stress had the greatest discriminative ability (AUC = 0.864), followed by light exposure (AUC = 0.789).

Conclusion:
A high prevalence of clinically significant insomnia was observed among university staff, primarily linked to workplace stress and nighttime light exposure. Targeted interventions addressing these factors could improve sleep health and overall well-being. Further studies in diverse populations are needed to validate these findings.

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Published

2025-10-20

How to Cite

Rodriguez-Alarcon, C., Japon-Cueva, D., Vinan-Paucar, L., Gruezo-Realpea , P., Hidalgo, M., Moran, R., & Santibañez-Vasquez, R. (2025). Insomnia Prevalence and Risk Factors Among Hispanic University Staff: A Cross-Sectional Study. International Journal of Medical Students. https://doi.org/10.5195/ijms.2023.2814

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Copyright (c) 2025 Carlos Rodriguez, Danny Japon, Linker Viñan, Presley Gruezo, Michelle Hidalgo, Ricardo Moran, Rocio Santibañez

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