Napping behavior in university students is multidimensional, with frequency predicted by sex, perceived stress, and daytime sleepiness, and three distinct student clusters emerging based on sleep disturbances, napping patterns, stress, and sleepiness.
Women were more likely to nap than men in the university student sample.
A higher proportion of women reported using napping as a stress management strategy compared to men.
Napping frequency was significantly predicted by sex, perceived stress scores, and Epworth sleepiness scores.
Napping duration was predicted by age, Epworth sleepiness scores, PSQI sleep efficiency, and PSQI sleep disturbance scores.
K-means cluster analysis identified three distinct student profiles based on napping, stress, and sleep characteristics.
The study had several methodological limitations including reliance on self-reported measures, online sampling, and overrepresentation of health-related program students.
This research suggests that daytime napping among university students is not a simple behavior but is shaped by multiple factors including gender, stress levels, and how sleepy students feel during the day. In a survey of 757 undergraduate students, women were more likely to nap than men and were more likely to report that they napped specifically to manage stress. Higher daytime sleepiness was associated with both napping more often and taking longer naps, while higher stress was actually associated with napping less frequently — suggesting that stress may disrupt or prevent napping rather than simply promoting it. When students were grouped by their sleep and napping patterns using statistical clustering, three distinct profiles emerged: one group struggled with poor sleep quality and high stress, another group took short naps and had relatively better sleep and lower stress, and a third group (tending to be younger) napped frequently and experienced high daytime sleepiness. These profiles suggest that napping serves different functions for different students — for some it may be a coping response to poor nighttime sleep, while for others it may reflect a general pattern of sleepiness. This research matters because it highlights that not all napping is the same and that a student's napping habits may reflect underlying issues with stress or sleep quality that could benefit from targeted support. The findings also underscore that women in university settings may face particular challenges related to stress and sleep. However, because the data were self-reported and the sample was heavily drawn from health-related programs, caution is warranted in generalizing these results to all university students.
Ferreira D, Amorim F, Orlando D, Demirkol H, Savucu E, Pereira L, et al.. (2026). Daytime napping, perceived stress, and sleep quality in university students: Insights from a cluster analysis.. Chronobiology international. https://doi.org/10.1080/07420528.2025.2611851