Electricity loadshedding (planned power outages) is associated with poorer self-reported sleep, studying habits, and grades in South African university students, with access to alternative power nearly halving the odds of worse sleep.
Key Findings
Results
The majority of South African university students reported that loadshedding negatively affected their sleep.
73% of respondents reported loadshedding affected their sleep
Of those affected, 80% reported worse sleep
The most frequent disruptions were increased sleep fragmentation (51%) and increased sleep onset latency (32%)
Sample consisted of 1124 students with a mean age of 22 and 72% female, representing 3% of the university population
Data were collected during 2023, described as 'the worst year in the country's loadshedding history'
Results
Access to alternative power was associated with nearly 60% reduced odds of reporting worse sleep due to loadshedding.
40% of students had access to alternative power
Multivariable logistic regression yielded OR = 0.43 (95% CI: 0.32–0.56) for worse sleep among those with alternative power access
The model was adjusted for age, sex, degree level, accommodation, ancestry, and faculty
This represents approximately a 57% reduction in the odds of worse sleep
Results
Students who reported worse sleep due to loadshedding more frequently reported a drop in grades compared to those with no sleep change.
59% of students with worse sleep reported a drop in grades, compared to 38% of those with no sleep change
This difference was statistically significant (P = .015)
The study also noted associations between loadshedding and poorer studying habits
Discussion
Loadshedding-related sleep disruption may be linked to increased risk for mental and physical health problems in university students.
University students were identified as already prone to poor sleep and high academic pressure, making them particularly vulnerable
The authors note loadshedding removes control over lighting and room temperature, and backup generator use increases noise pollution
These environmental changes are mechanisms through which loadshedding may disrupt sleep
The study was cross-sectional and used a self-administered online questionnaire, limiting causal inference
Methods
The study used a cross-sectional, self-administered online questionnaire distributed to all registered students at the University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa during 2023.
1124 students responded, representing approximately 3% of the university population
Mean respondent age was 22 years; 72% identified as female
The survey covered sleep characteristics, access to alternative power, academic outcomes, and demographic factors
The low response rate (3%) is a notable limitation for generalizability
What This Means
This research suggests that planned electricity outages — known in South Africa as 'loadshedding' — have meaningful negative effects on sleep quality among university students. In a survey of over 1,100 students at a major South African university during 2023 (the most severe year of loadshedding on record), nearly three-quarters said loadshedding disrupted their sleep, and of those, 80% said their sleep got worse. The most common problems were waking up during the night and taking longer to fall asleep. Students who slept worse were also more likely to report their grades had dropped compared to those whose sleep was unaffected.
One of the most striking findings was the protective effect of having access to alternative power sources, such as generators or solar systems. Students with such access had roughly 60% lower odds of reporting worse sleep, even after accounting for differences in age, sex, housing, and academic program. Since only about 40% of students had alternative power, this highlights a significant inequality in how loadshedding affects people depending on their resources.
This research suggests that infrastructure disruptions like loadshedding go beyond economic inconvenience — they can affect the sleep, academic performance, and potentially the mental and physical health of already-stressed student populations. The findings point to the need for solutions that help protect sleep during power outages, particularly for students who lack access to backup power.
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Davimes J, Scheuermaier K. (2026). Hello darkness, my old friend: Electricity loadshedding effects on sleep and studying habits in South African university students.. Sleep health. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sleh.2026.07.008