ORIGINAL RESEARCH article
Front. Public Health
Sec. Public Health Education and Promotion
Volume 13 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2025.1502947
Sleep quality and renal function among Chinese incoming college freshmen: The mediating role of lifestyle behaviors
Provisionally accepted
- 1Department of Health Management Center, The affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
- 2School of Public Health, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu Province, China
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Objective: This study investigates the association between sleep quality and renal function indicators, with a focus on how lifestyle behaviors mediate this relationship among Chinese incoming college freshmen during post-examination vacation period. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 3,743 non-smoking, non-drinking freshmen from two universities in Xuzhou, China. Data on demographics, sleep quality, and blood biochemical indicators were collected through self-administered questionnaires, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and physical examinations. Multiple logistic regression (MLR) was applied to explore the related biochemical indicators associated with sleep quality. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was subsequently used to evaluate the mediating effects of lifestyle factors in this relationship. Results: Higher creatinine levels (OR = 1.01, P = 0.002) increased the risk of poor sleep quality, while higher urea levels (OR = 0.87, P < 0.001) decreased it. Unhealthy lifestyle behaviors were also associated with sleep quality, including habitual caffeinated beverage intake (OR = 1.11, P = 0.003) and daily screen time (OR = 1.08, P = 0.001). Stratified analyses by gender further supported these associations, especially in females. SEM revealed that sleep quality could affect renal function (represented by creatinine and urea) though the independent mediating effect of daily screen time and the chain mediating effect of caffeinated beverage intake and daily screen time. Conclusion: These findings suggest that promoting healthy sleep, limiting screen exposure, and reducing caffeine consumption may help protect renal health in incoming college freshmen.
Keywords: sleep quality, Renal function, incoming college freshmen, Biochemical indicators, China
Received: 27 Sep 2024; Accepted: 19 May 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Wang, Li, Han, Zhai, Liu, Shen, Shen and Xiao. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence:
Peipu Shen, Department of Health Management Center, The affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
Guifang Shen, Department of Health Management Center, The affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
Lishun Xiao, School of Public Health, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu Province, China
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