THE PREVALENCE OF SUBSTANCE USE AND ITS EFFECTS ON SLEEP AND ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE AMONG STUDENTS OF THE POLYTECHNIC IBADAN

Abstract

Sleep has been found to be of the least priority of most individuals especially students. This may not be unconnected with the fact that, they feel they must always meet up with deadlines in form of school assignments and examinations which necessitate the use of substance to delay sleep. A descriptive survey design combining both qualitative and quantitative research strategies was used to find the relationship between substance use and its effects on sleep and academic performance of the students of The Polytechnic Ibadan. The population comprised National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND) undergraduate students of The Polytechnic Ibadan in Oyo State, South-West Nigeria. 295 participants were randomly selected from five faculties in the polytechnic for the study. The instruments used for collection of data were a self-designed questionnaire called Substance Use and Sleep Questionnaire (SUSQ), an inventory for collection of students’ results and supplemented by personal interviews where necessary. The data were analysed by computer using a statistical software SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences). Results of data analysis were presented using frequency distribution tables and bar graphs. The two hypotheses raised were tested at 0.5 level of significance. The study determined that there was significant relationship between substance use and academic performance and between sleep and academic performance. In the study, it was also discovered that substance use and insufficient sleep negatively affects students’ academic performance in The Polytechnic Ibadan. The respondents were assessed on socio-demography, the common substance used as study aid on campus, the perceived effect of substance use on sleep, the perceived effects of sleep on academic performance and the causes for substance use on sleep on campus. The study revealed that more than half of the respondents use one substance or the other to aid study. Of those surveyed 82.0% used coffee, 51.5% used energy drink, 39.3% used paracetamol + caffeine, 29.9% used alcohol, 23.4% used coffee + cigarette, 51.9% used tea. Also 86.8% were using stimulants to study longer, 76.8% to stay awake, 93.9% to study better, and 37.6% to improve memory, 49.8% to help concentration, 87.5% to help study, and 52% to increase alertness. The study also

found out that 74% respondents were of the view that good academic performance depend on the length of hours spent without sleep to study. The study therefore recommends that public awareness of the significance of sufficient sleep and the danger of effortful control should be increased. Primary, secondary and tertiary methods of prevention of substance use to alter sleep or anybody adjustment should be proper communicated to the students. Also school guidance and counseling units and health care provider may need to become more sensitized to the potential serious ramification of substance use on sleep. Pre-enrolment messages for first year students and restriction of the sale of stimulants on campus were also recommended. It is expected that this study will lead to a better understanding to the major contributors to student’s academic performance.