Abstract
BACKGROUND: Insomnia is defined as a condition involving insufficient or poor-quality sleep, marked by one or more symptoms such as difficulty initiating or maintaining sleep, early morning awakening, or non-restorative sleep. Sleep plays a critical role in supporting mental functions and, consequently, overall performance. Inadequate sleep reduces general alertness, impairs attention, and slows cognitive processing. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among students enrolled at Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) in 2023. The Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) scale was employed to assess the prevalence of insomnia within this group. Data were collected via an online Google Form from November 2023 to June 2024. RESULTS: A total of 17,172 students responded to the study. The prevalence of insomnia was 42.9% (95% CI: 42.2%-43.6%). The prevalence of subthreshold insomnia, clinical insomnia of moderate severity, and clinical insomnia of severe severity were 30.6% (95% CI: 29.9%-31.3%), 10.2% (95% CI: 9.7%-10.6%), and 2.1% (95% CI: 1.9%-2.3%), respectively. More than half of the students, 57.1% (95% CI: 56.4%-57.8%), did not have insomnia. The prevalence of insomnia among female students was 44.8%, compared with 40.6% among male students, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.001). A significant difference (P < 0.001) was also found in the prevalence of insomnia between students living in rural areas (37.1%) and those living in urban areas (46.5%). CONCLUSION: Approximately two out of every five students at IGNOU experience insomnia.