Sleep is influenced by both internal circadian rhythm and external factors. Students in entry-level physical therapy programs often face high stress and poor sleep, which can negatively impact their academic performance. Sleep is crucial for learning, memory, and cognitive function, but many students suffer from sleep disorders, leading to lower GPAs, reduced focus, and impaired decision-making. Stress triggers cortisol release, and sleep deprivation disrupts cortisol levels, affecting the body’s stress response. Significant sleep loss can cause irregular cortisol patterns and heightened stress, illustrating the complex relationship between sleep, stress, and cognitive performance, which varies by individual. As a profession, are we fostering a culture that promotes good sleep hygiene? Do physical therapy programs teach about sleep hygiene without fully embracing it? Stress contributes to sleep deprivation, but there are ways to manage stress in physical therapy school. With fifty percent of mental illness beginning by age 14 and seventy-five percent by age 24, the rising rates of anxiety and mental health issues among students highlight the need for educators to go beyond teaching sleep hygiene. This poster presentation will provide strategies for the cultivation of behaviors within physical therapy programs and other programs in higher education that promote good sleep hygiene, ensuring student success not only in school but as future professionals.

Authors:
Germaine Ferreira, Baylor University, United States
Regine Rossi, Baylor University, United States
Navpreet Kaur, Carlow University, United States
Kunal Bhanot, Carlow University, United States

About the Presenter(s)
Dr. Germaine Ferreira currently serves as a Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy, Robbins College of Health and Human Services at Baylor University in Waco, Texas, USA.

See this presentation on the full schedule – On Demand Schedule

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