Browsing by Author "Hermanoche, Marjial Angeli Judilla"

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    The relationship between caffeine consumption and sleep quality in New Zealand young adults : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics at Massey University, Albany, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2023) Hermanoche, Marjial Angeli Judilla
    Background: Sleep is essential for promoting optimal health, well-being, and performance, but in today's modern world, sleep is becoming increasingly difficult to prioritise in our daily routines. It has been well documented that insufficient (quantity and quality) sleep is associated with a plethora of adverse consequences, including reduced cognitive functioning and physical performance, increased psychological distress, and increased risk of developing chronic diseases. Research suggests that short sleep (≤6 hours per night) is becoming increasingly common among young adults, and it appears that many are using caffeine to try and offset the effects of their sleep loss. Laboratory studies have shown that caffeine reduces sleep efficiency and sleep quality, prolongs sleep onset latency, shortens total sleep length and alters sleep architecture by reducing the amount of deep (slow-wave) sleep attained. Information on the sleep quality of young adults in New Zealand is required to determine whether there is a cause for concern and whether there may be a link between sleep quality and caffeine usage. Aim: This cross-sectional study examined sleep quality in healthy young adults and the associations between sleep quality and caffeine consumption. Method: Previously validated Caffeine Consumption Habits (CaffCo) and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) questionnaires were administered to 192 young adults (aged 18–25 years) via the online survey software, Qualtrics. Results: Most young adults (98.4%) consumed caffeine in some form. The average daily caffeine intake was 159.6 mg·dayˉ¹, with coffee being the primary contributor. A high prevalence of poor sleep quality (85.9%) was observed in the study population. Furthermore, the majority of young adults (87.5%) slept less than 7 hours per night, the minimum amount advised for optimal health and well-being by scientific experts. Daily caffeine consumption was not associated with sleep quality (p > 0.05). Compared to working young adults, students with employment (OR 3.07; CI 1.02 – 9.25) and without employment (OR 3.52; CI 1.32 – 9.42) were more likely to experience poor sleep quality. Conclusions: These findings demonstrate that poor sleep quality is widespread among New Zealand young adults. More research is required to determine the reasons for this phenomenon. Young adults, especially students prone to irregular sleep-wake schedules, would benefit from sleep education. Additionally, consumer education should be improved in light of the expanding market of caffeine-containing products to ensure that caffeine is ingested safely and within recommended limits.