Sleep Quality and Psychological Well-being among University Students in Bangladesh: A Cross-sectional Study
Main Article Content
Mst. Ishrat Jahan
Nushrat Hasmi
Jahedul Islam
Md. Tosir Ahammed Bhuiyan
Rajib Chandra Das*
Mental health has become a significant issue with implications for academic performance and psychological functioning and wellbeing of university students at an alarming rate worldwide. Particularly, undergraduate mathematics students experience many academic complexities derived from the abstract nature of mathematical frameworks, robust curriculum, and rigorous academic standards. This study examines the effect of mathematics anxiety, academic stress, and sleep quality on the mental health of mathematics undergraduate students. A quantitative design was used to achieve the research goal, and data were collected using a structured questionnaire. Undergraduate students of the mathematics department were selected for data collection. Multiple factors associated with mathematics anxiety, including academic workload, sleep quality, and mental health outcomes, were investigated and analyzed in this study. The results revealed that mathematics anxiety had the strongest relationship with mental health (r = 0.82), followed by academic stress (r = 0.68), while sleep quality had a moderate negative relationship (r = -0.54). Based on the results above, it can be seen that there are various influences that impact mathematics students’ psychological well-being, whether in the form of academic or lifestyle factors. Poor mental health contributes significantly to anxiety and is responsible for increased psychological stress, emotional instability, and decreased self-reliance. This paper highlights the need for mental health support services, stress reduction, and academic counseling for mathematics students. Educational institutions are also encouraged to implement practical solutions to enhance students’ general wellness and academic achievement based on this study.
Al-Amin, M., Rinky, F., Bhuiyan, M. N. H., Yeasmin, R., Akter, T., Hoque, N., & Reza, S. (2025). Factors influencing mental health outcomes among university students: a cross-sectional study in Bangladesh. BMJ Open, 15(3), e097745. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2024-097745
Alhola, P., & Polo-Kantola, P. (2007). Sleep deprivation: Impact on cognitive performance. Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment, 3(5), 553–567. https://doi.org/10.2147/ndt.a930
Ashcraft, M. H. (2002). Math Anxiety: Personal, Educational, and Cognitive Consequences. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 11(5), 181–185. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-8721.00196
Ashcraft, M. H., & Krause, J. A. (2007). Working memory, math performance, and math anxiety. Psychonomic Bulletin & Review, 14(2), 243–248. https://doi.org/10.3758/bf03194059
Ashcraft, M. H., & Ridley, K. S. (2005). Math Anxiety and Its Cognitive Consequences: A Tutorial Review. In The Handbook of Mathematical Cognition (pp. 315–327). Psychology Press.
Beilock, S. L., & Maloney, E. A. (2015). Math Anxiety: A factor in math achievement not to be ignored. Policy Insights from the Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 2(1), 4–12. https://doi.org/10.1177/2372732215601438
Buysse, D. J., Reynolds, C. F., Monk, T. H., Berman, S. R., & Kupfer, D. J. (1989). The Pittsburgh sleep quality index: A new instrument for psychiatric practice and research. Psychiatry Research, 28(2), 193–213. https://doi.org/10.1016/0165-1781(89)90047-4
Carey, E., Hill, F., Devine, A., & Szűcs, D. (2017). The Modified Abbreviated Math Anxiety Scale: A Valid and Reliable Instrument for Use with Children. Frontiers in Psychology, 8, 1–13. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2017.00011
Cohen, S., Kamarck, T., & Mermelstein, R. (1983). A Global Measure of Perceived Stress. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 24(4), 385–396. https://doi.org/10.2307/2136404
Duffy, A., Saunders, K. E. A., Malhi, G. S., Patten, S., Cipriani, A., McNevin, S. H., MacDonald, E., & Geddes, J. (2019). Mental health care for university students: a way forward? The Lancet Psychiatry, 6(11), 885–887. https://doi.org/10.1016/s2215-0366(19)30275-5
Hershner, S., & Chervin, R. (2014). Causes and consequences of sleepiness among college students. Nature and Science of Sleep, 6, 73–84. https://doi.org/10.2147/nss.s62907
Lazarus, R. S., & Folkman, S. (1984). Stress, Appraisal, and Coping. Springer Publishing Company.
Lund, H. G., Reider, B. D., Whiting, A. B., & Prichard, J. R. (2010). Sleep Patterns and Predictors of Disturbed Sleep in a Large Population of College Students. Journal of Adolescent Health, 46(2), 124–132. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2009.06.016
Muskan, F. F., Ifty, M., Khaleque, U. A., Raj, A., Bhuiyan, M. A., Islam, M. R., & Kabir, E. R. (2026). Prevalence and Associated Risk Factors for Anxiety, Depression, and Insomnia Among University Students in Bangladesh: A Cross‐Sectional Study. Health Science Reports, 9(6), 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1002/hsr2.72309
Pascoe, M. C., Hetrick, S. E., & Parker, A. G. (2020). The Impact of Stress on Students in Secondary School and Higher Education. International Journal of Adolescence and Youth, 25(1), 104–112. https://doi.org/10.1080/02673843.2019.1596823
Ramirez, G., Shaw, S. T., & Maloney, E. A. (2018). Math Anxiety: Past Research, Promising Interventions, and a New Interpretation Framework. Educational Psychologist, 53(3), 145–164. https://doi.org/10.1080/00461520.2018.1447384
Richardson, F. C., & Suinn, R. M. (1972). The Mathematics Anxiety Rating Scale: Psychometric data. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 19(6), 551–554. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0033456
WHO. (2022). World mental health report: Transforming mental health for all. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240049338
Zhang, J., Zhao, N., & Kong, Q. P. (2019). The Relationship Between Math Anxiety and Math Performance: A Meta-Analytic Investigation. Frontiers in Psychology, 10, 1–17. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.01613
Zubin, J., & Spring, B. (1977). Vulnerability: A new view of schizophrenia. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 86(2), 103–126. https://doi.org/10.1037/0021-843x.86.2.103








