CHAPTER II

Review of Related Literature

This chapter presents the review of literature which is relevant to this present study. Thus,

this chapter provides background information which helps support this study.

Sleep

Sleep is a vital necessity for people to live a healthy lifestyle in which they can function

well and think properly. It helps with memory consolidation, learning, decision making, and

critical thinking (Gilbert & Weaver, 2010). Therefore, sleep deprivation is necessary for keeping

these cognitive functions at an optimal level for performance wherever the person may be,

whether it will be at work, home or even school. Unfortunately, not everyone receives adequate

amount of sleep in order to function properly throughout the day. These poor performances as a

result of poor sleep quality and sleep deprivation is especially evident among college students.

Since college students have such busy work, school, and social schedules to keep up with their

sleep cycles become negatively affected by it. They tend to have irregular sleep cycles depending

on the day of the week and report this satisfaction with sleep as a result of poor sleep quality

(Gilbert & Weaver, 2010).

Sleep is an important part of your daily routine, you spend about one-third of your time

doing it. Quality sleep and getting enough of it at the right times is as essential to survival as

food and water. Without sleep you can’t form or maintain the pathways in your brain that let

you learn and create new memories, and it’s harder to concentrate and respond quickly (“Brain

Basics: Understanding Sleep”, 2019).

Your need for sleep and your sleep patterns change as you age, but this varies

significantly across individuals of the same age. There is no magic “number of sleep hours” that

works for everybody of the same age. Babies initially sleep as much as 16 to 18 hours per day,
which may boost growth and development (especially of the brain). School-age children and

teens on average need about 9.5 hours of sleep per night. Most adults need 7-9 hours of sleep a

night, but after age 60, nighttime sleep tends to be shorter, lighter, and interrupted by multiple

awakenings. Elderly people are also more likely to take medications that interfere with sleep

(“Brain Basics: Understanding Sleep”, 2019).

Academic Performance

When people hear the term “academic performance” they often think of a person’s GPA.

However, several factors indicate a student’s academic success. While some may not graduate

top of their class, they may hold leadership positions in several student groups or score high on

standardized tests such as the SAT or ACT (Williams, 2018).

Scholarly Achievement and Skills

People often consider grades first when defining academic performance. This includes

schools, who rank students by their GPA, awarding special designations such as valedictorian

and salutatorian for those who graduate first and second in their class. Scholarship organizations

and universities also start by looking at grades, as do some employers, especially when hiring

recent graduates. Grades carry more weight in some industries, especially technical professions

such as law, medicine and finance. Other industries place less importance on GPA, particularly

creative professions such as writing or art and occupations such as sales where people skills are

more crucial than technical knowledge (Williams, 2018).

Impressive Test Scores

Grades don’t always reflect a person’s knowledge or intelligence. Some students don’t

perform well in a classroom setting but are very intelligent and earn high marks on IQ tests,

standardized testing or college entrance exams. Universities and employers consider these scores

along with other measurements and may forgive a less-than-perfect GPA for students who
perform well on these tests. Some tests, such as the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) and

Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), determine if a student is accepted into graduate

school. Law firms and medical facilities also place great importance on these scores and may

eliminate anyone who scores below a certain number (Williams, 2018).

Extracurricular Accomplishments

The definition of academic performance extends to achievement outside the classroom.

Some of the brightest students don’t earn straight As but are extremely well-rounded, succeeding

at everything from music to athletics. The ability to master a diverse set of skills illustrates

intelligence, curiosity and persistence, qualities attractive to universities and employers. Some

colleges will admit and even award scholarships to students who earned average grades but

display a pattern of achievement by consistently learning new skills. Many businesses also see

this as a selling point, thinking these candidates are eager to learn and will be easy to train

(Williams, 2018).

Student Leadership

Initiative can also indicate academic performance. Some students demonstrate their

competence by serving as student body president or holding officer positions in student groups

such as the honor society or the science club. Or, they might regularly organize student events

such as fundraisers, pep rallies or dances. Others participate in volunteer organizations and

coordinate food drives or other community outreach efforts. Universities and employers look

favorably on consistent leadership activities, feeling these students will bring that same drive to

their classrooms or board rooms (Williams, 2018).

Deprivation

A state of deprivation means something is missing, and the situation is serious. If you're

suffering from sleep deprivation, you haven't slept in a long time (Vocabulary.com Dictionary,

n.d.).

If you know the word deprive — meaning to keep something away from someone —

then you’re close to knowing what deprivation means. It describes the state of not having

something. Poor people experience a lot of deprivation: poverty keeps them from having enough

food or shelter. Plants experiencing water deprivation will shrivel up and die. If you’re grounded

your parents might impose video game deprivation, although this word is usually reserved for

when you’re lacking something really serious (Vocabulary.com Dictionary, n.d.).

Sleep Deprivation

The loss of sleep is a common problem in modern society, affecting many individuals at

some point in their lives (Davis, 2018).

Sleep deprivation occurs when an individual gets less sleep than they need to feel awake

and alert. People vary in how little sleep is needed to be considered sleep-deprived. Some people

such as older adults seem to be more resistant to the effects of sleep deprivation, while others,

especially children and young adults, are more vulnerable. Although occasional sleep

interruptions are generally no more than a nuisance, ongoing lack of sleep can lead to excessive

daytime sleepiness, emotional difficulties, poor job performance, obesity and a lowered

perception of quality of life. There is no questioning the importance of restorative sleep, and a

certain amount of attention is necessary to both manage and prevent sleep deprivation (Davis,

2018).

Sleep deprivation impairs learning and the ability to create new memories. Poor sleep

also diminishes your capacity to recall memories you’ve already made, whether you made them
a month ago, or 10 years ago. That’s why, when you’re short on sleep, you’re more apt to forget

the name of your high-school crush, or one of those many passwords you need to keep track of

(Breus, 2018).

Sleep deprivation, also known as insufficient sleep or sleeplessness, is the condition of

not having enough sleep (Wikipedia, n.d.).

It can be either chronic or acute and may vary widely in severity. A chronic sleep-

restricted state can cause fatigue, daytime sleepiness, clumsiness and increased appetite leading

to weight gain. It adversely affects the brain and cognitive function. However, in a subset of

cases sleep deprivation can, paradoxically, lead to increased energy and alertness and enhanced

mood; although its long-term consequences have never been evaluated, it has even been used as

a treatment for depression (Wikipedia, n.d.).

Causes of Sleep Deprivation

In a nutshell, sleep deprivation is caused by consistent lack of sleep or reduced quality of

sleep. Getting less than 7 hours of sleep on a regular basis can eventually lead to health

consequences that affect your entire body. This may also be caused by an underlying sleep

disorder (Watson & Cherney, 2019).

Among students, one of the most common causes of daytime sleepiness is sleep

deprivation. Students get inadequate sleep because they go to bed late and wake up early. This

occurs for multiple reasons; some are physiologic and others behavioral. The behavioral

components may be particularly problematic on college campuses. However, sleep deprivation is

not the only cause of sleepiness as college students are not immune to sleep disorders, which

may also cause sleepiness. This section will review common causes of sleep deprivation as well

as the prevalence of sleep disorders among college students, and the influence of sleep disorders

on sleepiness (Hershner & Chervin, 2014).

 Along with officially diagnosable sleep disorders, it has been observed through empirical

studies such as Hershner and Chervin’s Causes and Consequences of Sleepiness Among College

Students that schedules set by colleges and public schools are partially responsible for students

being afflicted with sleep deprivation. With class times being set early in the morning and late in

the evening as well as work-loads being increased outside of the class room, individuals’

circadian rhythms can become discombobulated, causing them to have an inadequate sleep cycle

(Hershner, & Chervin, 2014).

Sleep loss has been shown to be inversely proportional to academic performance; when

one fails to receive an adequate amount of sleep on a nightly basis, the literature states that an

individual’s skills in learning capacity, such as memory, attention and problem solving skills are

effected the most. Sleep deprivation can also lead to daytime sleepiness. When this factors are all

being faced, students are likely achieve lower test scores and lower grade point averages;

however, it has been shown that cognitive function is not hindered as drastically when the

individuals are working in groups as when working alone (Chiang, 2013).

There are many causes as to why sleep deprivation occurs in college students. In a study

done by Ahrberg and his colleagues (2012), they found that different modes of stress affect the

circadian sleep rhythms of the students. Of these modes of stress, stress from work and school

are the most prevalent. A working students can feel stress from going to school, then working too

hard at their job, and then coming to come home to do more school work until the early hours of

the day. Students who do not have a job may also feel the same stresses as working students if

they spend too much time procrastinating and have to spend time working on school work until

the early morning as well Ahrberg and his colleagues (2012) also state that as a result of sleeping

this late, sleep deprivation acts as another stressor on the student.

Many studies in the past have shown that sleep deprivation thus correlate with poor

academic performance because of lower abilities in cognition as a result of poor sleep quality. In
the study done by Gilbert & Weaver (2010), the two researchers found that sleep loss interferes

with a student’s academic, extracurricular and vocational choices. They also found that the

amount of hours students sleep in a 24 hours period has greatly decreased over the years while

sleep dissatisfaction has increased.

An individual’s physical and mental health and abilities have been shown to have direct

correlation with sleep deprivation. Research has shown that people who suffer from sleep

deprivation, are more likely to have issues with their cognitive abilities, such as memory and

problem solving skills when the individual also suffers from hypertension, but the relationship

does not end there. The empirical research study Decreased Cognitive/CNS Function in Young

Adults at Risk for Hypertension: Effects of Sleep Deprivation, which was conducted by

researchers; McCubbin, Peach, Moore & Pilcher have also shown that individuals who do not

have hypertension are more likely to develop this issue when constantly depriving themselves of

sleep (McCubbin, Peach, Moore, & Pilcher, 2012).

The brain is most effectively influenced by the different chemicals that are naturally

released by the body, but it is very possible to disorient the brain by not releasing, or releasing

too much of, a certain chemical. The empirical research study Neurophysiological Effects of

Sleep Deprivation in Healthy Adults, has shown that people suffering from total sleep

deprivation have an increase in dopamine output and a decrease in cortisol, thereby requiring an

increase in a combined effort of production from the prefrontal and limbic cortical regions.

Despite the increase of activity in the brain, individuals still suffer from decreased cognitive

performance (Klumpers et al., 2015).

Sleep deprivation increases the likelihood teens will suffer myriad negative

consequences, including an inability to concentrate, poor grades, drowsy-driving incidents,

anxiety, depression, thoughts of suicide and even suicide attempts (Richter, 2015).
You’re less creative

The science on how sleep affects creativity is really interesting. When we’re distracted,

unfocused, and fatigued, just when our other cognitive abilities are struggling, creativity perks

up. Anyone who’s struggled to come up with an inspired solution—whether it’s a design issue at

work or the perfect birthday gift for your mother-in-law—only to have the answer present itself

just as you’re falling asleep, knows how mysterious our creative thinking can be. These are what

I call “moments of groggy greatness,” when our mental fatigue opens up pathways of innovative

thinking, and they happen to all of us (Breus, 2018).

Overcoming Sleep Deprivation

There are multiple ways in which individuals can work to overcome their sleep

deprivation and return to functioning at an appropriate efficiency. Insomnia has been shown to

be a lead cause in sleep deprivation, causing individuals to lie awake at night, unable to achieve

sleep, or constantly waking throughout the night, there are multiple treatments that have been

tested and of these, one seems to stand out. With all the different drugs being used to aid with

sleep, acupuncture is actually proving to be an effective aid and more research is going into

discovering the true potential of this treatment (YuanFang et al., 2013).

Another aid in the fight against sleep deprivation is natural sleep aids. It is remarkable

how many natural aids there are, most of which come from leaves, roots and tree bark. Some of

these aids include: kava-kava, which is an herbal remedy that relaxes the body and enhances

dreaming. Valerian root, which eases nerve and muscle tension as well as relieves anxiety and

chamomile, which is a flower The Effects of Sleep Deprivation on Memory, Problem Solving,

and Critical Thinking 17 that is most often drunk as a tea, aids in reducing restlessness and

digestion. There are a plethora of natural remedies that help with releasing Melatonin and

Tryptophan, which are natural chemicals in the body that aid in healthy sleep. One should always

choose a natural remedy over its synthetic counterpart when available (Kopparapu et al., 2012).
 Rather than depriving yourself of sleep, pay attention to the times of day when you’re a

little on the groggy side. For most people, that’s first thing in the morning and near the end of the

day. Let your brain roam during these times, and see what surprising, innovative ideas spring to

mind (Breus, 2018).

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