| Sleep quality is influenced by various physiological and psychological parameters. We aimed to investigate the predictors of
sleep quality, including eating behavior patterns, bodymass index, self-efficacy, and coping strategies among university students.
Three hypotheses were tested: 1) self-efficacy could predict sleep quality; 2) coping strategies could predict sleep quality and 3)
eating behavior patterns and body mass index could mediate the association of self-efficacy and coping strategies with sleep
quality. In a cross-sectional study, Sherer’s self-efficacy questionnaire, Jalowiec coping scale, eating behavioral patterns, and
Pittsburgh’s sleep quality index questionnaires were collected from 250 female university students. The results of analyzing data
using the structural equation modeling approach showed that the first and second hypotheses were fully confirmed but the third
hypothesis was only partially supported. Higher self-efficacy and problem-focused coping strategies could positively predict
better sleep quality, but higher emotion-focused coping strategies negatively predicted good sleep quality. Moreover, eating
behavior patterns and body mass index could mediate the association between self-efficacy and emotion-focused (but not
problem-focused) coping strategies with sleep quality. In brief, the total effects of self-efficacy, emotion-focused, and
problem-focused coping strategies on sleep quality were β = −0.260, β = 0.327 and β = −0.209; p < 0.001, respectively. The
present study provides new evidence about the predictors of sleep quality among university students. However, further studies are
required with longitudinal design and with more objective assessments of sleep quality. |