Abstract
BACKGROUND: Sleep is a critical factor affecting college students' physical and mental health, closely intertwined with their daily lives and academic performance. While previous studies have examined the relationship between negative life events and sleep quality among college students, few have explored the mediating role of negative attentional bias and negative emotions in this relationship. Based on cognitive-behavioral theory, this study investigates the impact of negative life events on college students' sleep quality and examines the mediating roles of negative attentional bias and anxiety. METHODS: A total of 566 college students were assessed using the Adolescent Life Events Scale, Negative Attention Bias Scale, Depression-Anxiety-Stress Scale, and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. RESULTS: Negative attention bias and anxiety mediate the relationship between negative life events and sleep quality, acting as independent mediators and chain mediators, respectively. Negative events exert a significant positive influence on poor sleep quality (β = 0.181, p < 0.001), negative events exert a significant positive influence on negative attentional bias (β = 0.355, p < 0.001) and anxiety (β = 0.306, p < 0.001). Negative attention positively influenced anxiety (β = 0.196, p < 0.001) and poorer sleep quality (β = 0.115, p < 0.01). Anxiety also significantly positively influenced poorer sleep quality (β = 0.658, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: These findings contribute to understanding the mechanisms underlying sleep quality in college students and provide insights for sleep quality interventions.