Abstract
Background: Sleep problems are prevalent among student populations worldwide. Medical students, facing heavy academic workloads and intense pressure, are particularly susceptible to sleep disorders. While sleep quality among Chinese university students has been consistently declining, research focusing on medical students in tropical island provinces like Hainan remains insufficient. This study aims to address this geographical gap by analyzing the sleep quality status and influencing factors among medical students in Hainan Province. Objective: To investigate the current status of sleep quality and its associated factors among medical students in Hainan Province, providing a scientific basis for developing targeted interventions. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in April 2024 using purposive sampling to recruit undergraduate students from a medical university in Hainan. The Self-Rating Scale of Sleep (SRSS) developed by Li Jianming was administered, and 551 valid questionnaires were collected anonymously. Data were analyzed using univariate analysis and pairwise comparisons to assess sleep quality and associated factors, with demographic variables as independent variables. Results: Among participants, 40.1% reported sleep problems (31.2% mild, 8.2% moderate, 0.7% severe). The mean total SRSS score was 21.78 ± 5.73. Compared to the national norm, medical students showed significantly higher scores in sleep quality, insufficient arousal, and post-insomnia responses (p < 0.05). Academic major was identified as a significant influencing factor (p = 0.012), with clinical medicine students demonstrating significantly poorer sleep quality than health management majors (p = 0.010). No significant differences were found for gender or academic year. Conclusions: Sleep problems are prominent among medical students in Hainan, with clinical medicine students at higher risk due to academic and professional pressures. Recommendations include optimizing curriculum schedules, strengthening psychological support systems, and developing targeted interventions for clinical majors.