BACKGROUND

Sleep quality is related to physical and mental health. Though bedtime procrastination has been identified as a potentially key source of poor sleep quality, related research is scarce. The goal of our study was to determine bedtime procrastination among nursing students and identify its influencing factors.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study comprised 1827 junior college nursing students. The data were collected from November to December 2021 using a mobile app-based survey. We evaluated demographic factors, Big Five personality traits, self-regulatory fatigue, future time perspective, and problematic mobile phone use. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to identify independent characteristics that influence bedtime procrastination among junior college nursing students.

RESULTS

The mean bedtime procrastination score in junior college nursing students was 25.11 ± 6.88. Family monthly income of 3000-6000 RMB (β = 0.740; p = 0.015), as well as that of > 6000 RMB (β = 1.708; p = 0.001), and an extroverted personality (β = 0.225; p = 0.001), self-regulatory fatigue (β = 0.135; p < 0.001), and problematic mobile phone use (β = 0.078; p < 0.001) had significant positive effects on bedtime procrastination. Conscientious personality (β = - 0.284; p = 0.003), neurotic personality (β = - 0.203; p = 0.031), and future time perspective (β = - 0.141; p < 0.001) had significant negative effects on bedtime procrastination.

CONCLUSION

The nursing students who participated in this study had moderate levels of bedtime procrastination. Bedtime procrastination was predicted by higher monthly household income; personality traits of extroversion, conscientiousness, and neuroticism; self-regulatory fatigue; future time perspective; and problematic mobile phone use.

PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS

We recommend that effective measures are needed to help alleviate bedtime procrastination and improve the health and well-being of nursing students.