PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate sleep habits, sleep disturbance, and circadian types, and to identify factors influencing sleep disturbance in nursing students. METHODS: Participants were 140 senior nursing students. The data were collected from May 19 to 27, 2008 using self-report questionnaires. RESULTS: 1) Evening type delayed sleep-wake schedules were more frequent than for morning type, especially during weekend and evening shift duty. 2) In total sleep time, there were no significant statistical differences between morning type and evening type during weekdays, weekend, day or evening shift duty. 3) On weekdays and day shift duty, the mean score for sleep disturbance was significantly higher in the evening type compared to the morning type. 4) Sleep disturbance in weekday and day shift duty was influenced by circadian types, eating habits, and gender. CONCLUSION: The circadian types are a very important factor for determining the sleep quantity and quality in nursing students.
*Circadian Rhythm ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Questionnaires ; Sex Factors ; *Sleep ; Sleep Disorders, Circadian Rhythm/prevention & control ; Students, Nursing/*psychology ; Young Adult

Physiological and behavioral rhythms are governed by an endogenous circadian clock. In this paper are reported the studies on soldier's circadian of melatonin concentrations by means of electricity and light pulses presented to the popliteal region (behind the knee). The results showed that the phase of melatonin concentrations can be regulated by both the electricity pulses and the light pulses. A systematic relation was found between the timing of the electro-stimulating and the magnitude and direction of phase shifts, resulting in the generation of a phase response curve. The phase response curve displayed photic model. These findings have implications for the development of more effective treatments for sleep and circadian rhythm disorders.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Chronobiology Disorders ; prevention & control ; Circadian Rhythm ; physiology ; radiation effects ; Electric Stimulation ; Humans ; Male ; Melatonin ; blood ; physiology ; Military Personnel ; Photic Stimulation ; Sleep Disorders, Circadian Rhythm ; prevention & control