Power cuts and sleep: Students link load shedding to anxiety, disrupted rest and lower grades
South Africa endured its worst year of load shedding (scheduled power cuts by the country's utility, Eskom) in 2023. The power went off on 335 of the year's 365 days, often several times a day. Since then, the country has gone more than a year and a half without these planned power cuts.
South Africa experienced its worst year of scheduled power cuts in 2023, with electricity service interrupted on 335 of the 365 days. The study of its impact on university students' sleep and grades reveals concerning trends. Nearly three-quarters of the 1,100 surveyed students reported their sleep being affected by power cuts. The majority found the quality of their sleep to worsen, experiencing frequent awakenings and an inability to fall asleep due to generators, temperature fluctuations, and heightened anxiety.
The most disruptive power cuts occurred between 8 p.m. and 12:30 a.m., coinciding with students' regular evening routines and bedtime. Contrary to some, about one-fifth of affected students reported improved sleep during outages, typically due to the absence of screens and Wi-Fi. Access to alternative power sources, such as generators or solar panels, significantly reduced the likelihood of worse sleep, with solar being the most beneficial option.
Poor sleep and reduced studying often went hand in hand, with students who slept poorly more likely to experience lower grades and tardiness. While the study cannot definitively prove causation, the findings align with existing sleep research. The results highlight practical implications for universities, energy planners, and households, suggesting that quieter backup power options and maintaining a regular sleep routine can mitigate the adverse effects of planned power cuts.
Written by urgent.news from Phys.org's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
