Sleep Quality and Perceived Stress as Determinants of Academic Performance in Undergraduate Medical Students at M. Islam Medical and Dental College, Gujranwala

Objective: To examine the relationship between sleep quality, perceived stress, and academic outcomes among undergraduate medical students. Methods: A cross-sectional analytical design was employed at M. Islam Medical and Dental College, Gujranwala, over a three-month period (January–March 2026), following clearance from the institutional ethical review committee. Using non-probability convenience sampling, 220 undergraduate MBBS students were recruited. Sleep quality was quantified via the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and psychological stress was gauged using the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10). Academic scores from the most recent professional examinations served as the outcome measure. Statistical analyses — including Pearson correlation and multiple linear regression — were performed on SPSS version 26, with significance set at p ≤ 0.05. Results: Of the 220 students enrolled, 121 (55%) were female and 99 (45%) were male, with a mean age of 21.3 ± 1.8 years. Disturbed sleep was reported in 136 students (61.8%), while 150 (68.2%) exhibited moderate-to-high stress. Sleep quality and academic performance were negatively correlated (r = −0.41, p < 0.001), as were stress levels and examination scores (r = −0.36, p < 0.001). On regression analysis, both poor sleep (β = −0.32, p = 0.002) and elevated stress (β = −0.28, p = 0.004) independently predicted weaker academic performance. Conclusion: Disrupted sleep and heightened psychological stress were each significantly linked to lower academic achievement in this cohort. Institution-level programmes targeting sleep hygiene and stress regulation could meaningfully enhance students' scholastic outcomes.