Influence of Confinement by COVID-19 on the Quality of Sleep and the Interests of University Students

PURPOSE: To check for changes in sleep in three temporary times: before COVID-19 lockdown in university students, and also twenty days and forty days afterwards, as well as to see how it has influenced in their daily activities. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A longitudinal study was conducted with a sample of 75 participants from different Spanish universities. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and the Adapted Interest List were administered to evaluate the main variables of the study. RESULTS: About 70.7% of the sample showed worse sleep quality at 20 days, almost twice as much as before confinement (37.3%), there were more problems falling asleep (F(2, 75) = −3.14, p = 0.002), and more difficulty getting back to sleep when waking up at night (F(2.75) = 2.08, p = 0.037) at 40 days of lockdown. In addition, as confinement time went on, students showed less activities. Factors such as working, in addition to studying, and relaxing activities (reading, listening to music) were associated with better sleep quality. CONCLUSION: Sleep quality worsened during lockdown in university students, as well as both 20 and 40 days later. Staying busy during the day (not only studying but also working) and spending free time on relaxing activities are related to better sleep quality.