Abstract

TAFOYA, Silvia A. et al. Sleep difficulties and psychological symptoms in medicine students in Mexico. Medicina (B. Aires) [online]. 2013, vol.73, n.3, pp.247-251. ISSN 0025-7680.

The purpose of this study was to describe sleep difficulties in first year medical students associated with psychopathological symptoms. A cross-sectional study in 572 Medicine students, who were assessed by the Symptom Check List-90 (SCL-90), was performed. A 3.5% of students reported having a hard time sleeping, 6.3% had difficulty staying asleep and 11.4% waking up very early. Sleep difficulties were significantly associated with all psychopathological symptoms. The best predictors of sleep difficulties were anxiety, hostility and interpersonal sensitivity. In conclusion, the symptoms associated with stress, anger, worry, cognitive hyperarousal and hypervigilance are the best predictors for sleep difficulties in this population.

Keywords : Medical students; Sleep difficulties; Psychopathological symptoms.

        · abstract in Spanish     · text in Spanish     · Spanish ( pdf )