College students who struggle to fall asleep are likely to also feel lonely, according to a study from Oregon State University (OSU).
Out of 1,000 undergraduates that the psychologists studied, 35 percent said they felt lonely—and these students were almost twice as likely to report insomnia symptoms compared to their non-lonely peers.
“Insomnia is detrimental to the health of college students,” said study co-author Jessee Dietch, assistant professor of psychological science, psychologist and sleep medicine practitioner, in a statement. “It has been consistently associated with increased stress, anxiety and mood disturbance, as well as decreased academic performance.”
The psychologists said that insomnia and loneliness were at epidemic levels among young adults in higher education. That loneliness could disrupt sleep by making students more sensitive to stress, so they were more likely to lie awake at night, worrying.
