Abstract

This study was aim to examine the influence of circadian rhythm and sleep deprivation on stress and depression of college students according to gender. Three hundreds and nineteen participants were volunteered in this study. Of which, 147 were male and 172 were female, whose ages ranged from 18 to 37 (M=23.36, SD=2.98). The outcome measures were Circadian Rhythm Questionnaire, Sleep Deprivation Scale, Stress Coping Questionnaire for College Students, Zung's Self-Rating Depression, and Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test. Male students were more likely to be evening type than female, and the evening type was more likely to experience sleep deprivation than the morning type. The morning type were more depressed than the evening type for males, while it was reversed for females. Although there were no differences in college life stress and depression by existence of sleep deprivation for males, female students who were experiencing sleep deprivation showed significant higher level of college life stress and depression than females who were not experiencing sleep deprivation. Consuming alcoholic beverages was positively related to being evening type for both male and female students, while playing internet games was positively related to being evening type only for males. The present findings suggest that possible gender differences may exist in relationships between sleep circadian rhythm and mental health of college students. (Korean J Str Res 2009;17:247∼254)

• Keywords: Sleep, Circadian rhythm, Sleep deprivation, Stress, Depression