AbstractTwenty-five Georgiastate university students were surveyed with a 15-question survey about theirproblems on sleep deprivation. Most of the respondents were African-Americanfemales between the ages 18 to 23 years old. The survey participants respondedto whether they deal with sleep deprivation or not, what methods they use todeal with it, and if those methods work for them of not. The data suggest thatthe majority respondents sleep six to seven hours every night by the surveysample. The data suggest that taking naps during the days sometimes helps therespondents deal with them losing sleep due to other engagements.Chapter One: OverviewSleep deficiency is a common public health problem in the United States. College Students are one of the most sleep deprived populations. Research at Brown University has found that approximately 11% of students reported good sleep, while 73% reported sleep problems. 18% of college men and 30% of college women report having suffered from insomnia in the past 3 months. (2016, Campusmindworks.com) Lack of sleep can cause you to forget things, and can impair your ability to learn. Sleep deprivations is a condition that occurs when you dont get enough sleep. Sleeping is a basic human need, like eating, drinking, and breathing. Like these other needs,sleeping is a vital part of the foundation for good health and well-beingthroughout your lifetime. Sleep deficiency can lead to physical and mentalhealth problems, injuries, loss of productivity and a greater risk at death. People in all age groups report not getting enough sleep, and is alsolinked to other health problems such as heart disease, kidney disease, highblood pressure, diabetes, stroke, obesity, and depression. It is also associatedwith increased risk of injury in teens, and children too. Driver sleepiness that is not related to alcohol, is responsible for serious car crash injuries and death. But in the elderly, sleep deficiency might be linked to an increased risk of falls and broken bones. (2012, nhlbi.nih.gov) Your ability to function well and feel well while youre awake depends on whether youre getting enough total sleep of each type of sleep. It also depends on whether youre sleeping at a time when your body is prepared and ready to sleep if you arent getting enough sleep, you are sleeping at the wrong times, or have poor quality sleep, youll likely feel very tired during the day, or you may not feel refreshed and alert when you wake up. (2012, nhlbi.nih.gov) This paper will survey two-year college students on their experience with sleep deprivation, what strategies they do to deal with it, and if those strategies they use are working for them. Chapter Two: Review ofLiteratureIn 1992-1993 theCongressionally appointed National Commission on Sleep Disorders Research,chaired by Dr. William C. Dement, has determined the extent striking findingsof the Commissions report is a startling lack of information about sleepdisorders among general practitioners. The lack of information has resulted inmisdiagnoses and mistreatments of patients estimated in the millions, veryoften in cases where a little knowledge and the right treatment might haveworked wonders. (Stanford.edu) In 1894, Russian scientist Marie de Manaceinestarted experimenting on puppies to test the effects of sleep deprivation onthe brain. The outcome was unexpected in that all the 10 test subjects died. (2017,Sleepjunkies.com)Sleep deprivation is aform of torture that goes back a long way. An Italian lawyer, Hippolytus deMarseillaise is credited with being a pioneer, adding sleep to the arsenal ofthe Catholic Inquisition. The idea soon gained widespread acceptance. Theglobalization of this phenomenon was demonstrated by revelations owns in 2008that a study of Chinese Community techniques was being used as trainingmaterial for interrogators based at Guantanamo Bay. In 1930, the former Soviet Union, during the Stalinera, established the Gulag, a network of forced labor camp, to preserve thefunctions of the states system. Approximately 14 million detainees passedthrough the camps, which were documented in a first-hand account by Nobel Prizewinning author Alessandro Solzhenitsyn. (2017, Sleepjunkies.com)The US interrogatorsused multiple tactics to keep their prisoners awake. Operation Sandman, alsoknown as the frequent flyer program involved moving prisoners form cell tocell every hour or two. Monstering was the term interrogators used inAfghanistan to play a game of who could last the longest between prisoner andinterrogators. Another common and often bizarre technique was that everythingfrom hard rock to Sesame Street at deafening levels, was designed to drive themcrazy. Sleep deprivation was often combined with shackling. The prisoner wouldbe chained up in either a standing of horizontal position or sometimes in achair, for up to 11 days at a time to prevent to the detainee from falling asleep.(2017, sleepjunkies.com)Experiments in totalsleep deprivation produce startling, regrettable results. Take the case ofPeter Tripp, a New York disc jockey who stayed awake for 201 hoursbroadcasting, as a publicity stunt. Tripp performed this feat first in a glassbooth in Times Square, then a hotel room with laboratory equipment monitored bymedical personnel. The longer Tripp went without sleep, the more medicalassistance he required, because his brain gradually gave way under the strain.In three days, he developed inappropriate affect, or incongruous emotional reactions(laughing, anger) that didnt match the stimuli producing them. The next day,Tripp began to hallucinate, which soon progressed to full-blown paranoid psychosis.(Fallingasleep.net)Sleep researchers areinterested in studying sleep restriction, measuring what happens to your brainand body when you get some, but not enough sleep. These studies focus on eithermental disruption or measurable physical changes, like altered hormone orneurotransmitter levels. Sleep restriction studies have the potential toexplain the wide range of symptoms observed in sleep deprivation patients, andquantify the health effects of what has become the common practice of sleepingtoo little. Two well-known studies of restricted sleep, conducted concurrentlyand designed to complement each other in terms of data gathered, gave themedical world a comprehensive picture of what happens if subject sleep anywherefrom three to nine hours per night. In considering those numbers, bear in mindAmericans average 6.9 hours of sleep per night during the week. Both studies usedthe same performance yardstick, a test called the psychomotor vigilance task(PVT) which measures reaction time during periods of pressing the space bar inresponse to a changing display on a computer monitor. The PVT is easy to dosuccessfully for the well-rested, and is considered a predictor of workplace functioning.(fallingasleep.net)Subjects sleeping eightof nine hours did consistently good work in the PVT, showing no changes as thestudies went on. But the other groups, even the seven-hour sleepers, not onlyperformed less well to begin with, but deteriorated in competence as thestudies progressed. The effects were marked, in no way subtle, and thecognitive deficits induced by lack of sleep were serious enough that they wouldbe noticeable on a day-to-day basis. The available research states there are afew people who can sleep five hours or less each night, and there are others atthe opposite end of the distribution who need nine to ten hours of sleep. Butthe eight-hour mark in the curve is where most human beings must fall in orderto turn is a good performance, and too few of us currently achieve thatstandard. (fallingasleep.net)Chapter Three:MethodologyThe survey of sleep deprivation consists of 15 questions. The first three questions are demographic questions. They are age, gender, and ethnic background. The remaining 12 questions are in multiple format response.The data for the surveywill be gathered from surveying students from Georgia State University. The surveyinstrument will be issued to the students between the hours of 11AM to 1AM onTuesday and Thursday. Twenty-five instruments will be issued. The surveyor willprovide pencils and randomly ask each third person to complete a surveyinstrument. The surveyor will wait while the respondents complete theinstruments and return it to the surveyor. This process will continue until all25 instruments have been completed. All data will be tabulated usingdescriptive statistics.Chapter Four: Results4.1: Age of RespondentsAs indicated in the table 4.1, 14 (56%) ofthe respondents were between 18-20 years of age, 10 (40%) of respondents werebetween 20-23 years of age, one (4%) of the respondent were between 24-29, andzero of the respondents were age 30 and above. The data suggest the majority (56%)of the respondents were between 18-20 years of age.Table 4.2: GenderRespondentsAs indicated in the table 4.2, 15 (60%) ofthe respondents were female, 10 (40%) of the respondents were males. The data suggeststhat the majority (60%) of the respondents were female.Table 4.3: Ethnic Background ofRespondentsAs indicated in table 4.3, 19 (76%) of therespondents were African American, two (8%) of the respondents were AsianAmerican, two (8%) of the respondents were European American, zero of therespondents were Hispanics, and two (8%) of the respondents were in the othercategory. The data suggest that the majority of the respondents were AfricanAmerican.Table 4.4: On an average school nightin college, I am most likely to sleep.As indicated in the table 4.4, 10 (20%) ofrespondents sleep 4 to 5 hours on an average college night,12(48.0) of therespondents sleep 6 to 7 hours on a college night, three (12%) of the respondentssleep 8 to 9 hours on a college night, zero of the respondents sleep 10 or morehours on a college night. The data above states that (88%) of the majority onlysleep 4 to 7 hours on an average college night.Table 4.5: I am most likely to ____before bed.As indicated in the table 4.5, three (12)of the respondents watch television before going to bed, three (12%) of therespondents talk on the phone before going to bed, two (8.0) of the respondentseat a snack before going to bed, 14 (56.0) of the respondents use the computerof electronic devices before going to sleep. According to the data above, themajority (56%)of the respondents use the computer of electronic devices beforegoing to bed.Table 4.6: I normally make up for sleeploss with caffeine (coffee, tea, energy drink etc.)As indicated in table 4.6, four (16%) ofthe respondents frequently make up for sleep loss with caffeine, six (24.0) ofthe respondents sometimes use caffeine to make up for sleep, five (20%) of therespondents seldom use caffeine to make up for sleep, 10 (40%) of therespondents never use caffeine to make up for sleep loss. The data suggest thatthe majority (60%) of the respondents drink caffeine very rarely and neverdrink caffeine to make up for sleep.Table 4.7: Which of the followingcauses you to lose sleep?As indicated in table 4.7, four (7.0) ofthe respondents says that video games causes them to lose sleep, eight (14.0)of the respondents said that socializing with friends causes them to losesleep, one (1.7) of the respondents says that dealing with anxiety causes themto lose sleep, zero of the respondents deal with small children causes them tolose sleep, nine (15.7) of the respondents said that work causes them to losesleep, nine (15.7) of the respondents said the Internet causes them to losesleep, 16 (28.0) of the respondents said that college assignments and studyingcauses them to lose sleep, two (3.5) of the respondents said that depressioncauses them to lose sleep, two (3.5) of the respondents said that partyingcauses them to lose sleep, one (1.7) of the respondents said that they dealwith sleep disorder which causes them to lose sleep, one (1.7) of therespondents said that disruptive house mates causes them to lose sleep. Three(5.2) of the respondents said that family commitments cause them to lose sleep,one (1.7) of the respondents said that other reasons cause them to lose sleep.The data suggest that the majority (%) tend to lose sleep because of collegeassignments and studying, work and being on the internet.Table 4.8: after a night of very littlesleep, you are likely to experience the following.As indicated In the table 4.8, nine (13.8)of the respondents have difficulty concentrating after a night of very littlesleep, seven (10.7) of the respondents have mood swings after a night of verylittle sleep, 10 (15.3) of the respondents suffer from irritability after anight of very little sleep, five (7.6) of the respondents get headaches after anight of very little sleep, 15 (23.0) of respondents suffer from lack ofmotivation after a night of very little sleep, seven (10.7) of the respondentssuffer from absentmindedness, 12 (18.4) of the respondents have an increasedlikelihood of dozing off during the day. The data suggest that the majority(55.2%) deal with lack of motivation, increased likelihood of dozing off duringthe day, and difficulty concentrating after a night of very little sleep.Table 4.9: I take naps during the day.As indicated in table 4.9, six (24.0) ofthe respondents frequently take naps during the day, four (16.0) of the respondentssometimes take naps during the day, 15 (60.0) of the respondents seldom takenaps during the day, zero of the respondents never take naps during the day.The data suggest that the majority (60%) of the respondents seldom take napsduring the day.Table 4.10: My school work load doesnot impact my ability to feel well rested.As indicated in the table 4.10, zero ofthe respondents strongly agree that their work load does not impact theirability to feel well rested, two (8.0) of the respondents agree that theirschool work load does not impact them, eight (32.0) of the respondents feelneutral about their school work load impacting them, 11 (44.0) of therespondents disagree that their school work load does not impact them to feelwell rested, four (16.0) of the respondents strongly disagree that their schoolwork load does not impact them. The data suggest that the majority (76%) of therespondents disagree and feel neutral about their workloads impacting theirability to feel well rested.Table 4.11: How often do you takesleep-aid medications?As indicated in the table 4.11, zero ofthe respondents frequently take sleep-aid medication, one (4.0) of the respondentssometimes take sleep-aid medications, five (20.0) of the respondents seldomtake sleep-aid medications, 19 (76.0) of the respondents never take sleep-aidmedications. The data suggest that the majority (76%) never take sleep-aidmedication.Table 4.12: Due to lack of sleep, I amunable to focus during exams/lecture.As indicated in table 4.12, three (12.0)of the respondents strongly agree that due to lack of sleep they are unable tofocus on exams or lectures, seven (28.0) of the respondents agree that due tolack of sleep they are unable to focus, nine (36.0) of the respondents feelneutral to them having lack of sleep, three (12.0) of the respondents disagreethat the lack of sleep makes them unable to focus during exams, three (12.0) ofthe respondents strongly disagree that the lack of sleep makes them unable tofocus during exams or lectures. The data suggest that the majority (64%) of therespondents agree and are neutral that lack of sleep makes them unable to focuson exams and lectures.Table 4.13: I often find myselfcramming for exams.As indicated on the table 4.13, eight(32.0) of the respondents frequently find themselves cramming for exams, nine(36.0) of the respondents find themselves sometimes cramming for exams, seven(28.0) of the respondents find themselves cramming for exams, one (4.0) of therespondents never find themselves cramming for exams. The data suggest that themajority (68%) of the respondents frequently and sometimes find themselvescramming for exams.Table 4.14: I exercise regularlyAs indicated in the table 4.14, five(20.0) of the respondents frequently exercise regularly, 12 (48.0) of respondentssometimes exercise regularly, five (20.0) of the respondents seldom exerciseregularly, three (12.0) of the respondents never exercise. The data suggestthat the majority (68%) sometimes, frequently and seldom exercise regularly.Table 4.15: How do you score on a testafter staying up all night.As indicated in the 4.15, zero of the respondentsscore 0%-25% on a test after staying up all night, four (16.0) of therespondents score 26%-50% on a test after staying up all night, 10 (40.0) ofthe respondents score 51%-75% on a test after staying up all night, 11 (44.0)of the respondents score 76%-100% on a test after staying up all night. Thedata suggest that the majority (84%) of the respondents score 51% to 100% on atest after staying up all night.Chapter Five: Summary and DiscussionTwo-year collegestudents were surveyed about if they deal with sleep deprivation and how. Thissurvey sought to find out the opinions of survey participants about sleepdeprivation, if they deal with sleep deprivation, how and what methods they useto deal with it, and if those methods work for them.The typical respondentwas African-American females that were between the ages of 18 and 23. whenasked how many hours they sleep on a typical school night, the majority ofrespondents reported they would sleep six to seven hours a night.This survey had threeinquires. The first inquiry focused on if the students deal with sleepdeprivation. The data suggest that the majority of the respondents do deal withsleep deprivation.The second inquirysought to find out how the respondents deal with losing sleep. The data suggestthat the majority of the respondents take naps, or make up from sleep loss withcaffeine.The third inquirysought to find out if the methods the respondents are taking and improvingtheir performance or was it hurting their performance. The data suggest thatfor the majority, those methods are not really improving their performance.There were nodifficulties in conducting this experiment. The process went by smoothly.In the future, I wouldrecommend going to sleep and waking up at the same time every day to try andkeep the same schedule because changing the times can disrupt your bodies sleepand wake cycle. Avoid nicotine and caffeine because they are stimulants thatcan interfere with sleep. Use relaxation techniques of take a hot bath beforebed and also try not to eat heavy or large meals right before bed.ReferencesA Brief History of Sleep Deprivation and Torture. (2016, August 20). Retrieved April 12, 2017. from https://sleepjunkies.com/features/sleep-deprivation-and-torture-a-brief-history/D. (n.d.). A Brief History of Sleep Research. Retrieved April 10, 2017, from http://web.stanford.edu/~dement/history.htmlSleep Deprivation. (2017). Retrieved April 10, 2017. From http://fallingasleep.net/deprivationSleep. (2016). Retrieved April 10, 2017, fromhttp://campusmindworks.org/students/selfcare/sleep.aspWhat are Sleep Deprivation and Deficiency? (2010, February 22). Retrieved April 10, 2017, from http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov.health/health-topics/topics/sdd/Get Help With Your AssignmentIf you need assistance with writing your assignment, our professional assignment writing service is here to help!Find out more
