Factors Associated With Insomnia Among Medical Students Across Latin America During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Multicenter 2020 Benchmark Study
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted medical education and mental health. This multicenter study examined factors associated with insomnia among medical students from 13 Latin American countries during the first pandemic wave. A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted using an online questionnaire. Insomnia was measured with the Insomnia Severity Index. Exposures included physical activity, eating disorder symptoms, burnout, resilience, smoking and alcohol risk, and sociodemographic, educational, and clinical variables. Prevalence ratios with 95% confidence intervals were estimated through regression. Among 2,019 students, the prevalence of insomnia symptoms according to the ISI cutoff was 46.9% (95% CI: 44.7–49.1). Higher prevalence was observed among students who reported being a son or daughter within their family, those with relatives diagnosed or deceased from COVID-19, prior mental health problems, eating disorder symptoms, or smoking risk. Lower prevalence was found among seventh-year students, those with children, those perceiving the pandemic as serious, and students reporting high physical activity or resilience. Almost half of medical students screened positive for insomnia symptoms during the early pandemic. Family COVID-19 impact, prior mental health problems, eating disorder symptoms, and smoking risk were associated factors, while advanced training level, parenthood, physical activity, and resilience were associated with a lower prevalence of insomnia symptoms. These findings provide evidence for sleep health in Latin American medical students and may guide post-pandemic comparisons and interventions.
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BibTeX
@article{valladaresgarrido2026factors,
title = {{Factors Associated With Insomnia Among Medical Students Across Latin America During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Multicenter 2020 Benchmark Study}},
author = {Mario J. Valladares-Garrido and J. Pierre Zila-Velasque and Ludwing A. Zeta Solis and David Astudillo Rueda and María Julia Cómina Tamayo and Fatima Jiménez-Mozo and C. Ichiro Peralta Chiguala and Christopher G. Valdiviezo-Morales and E. Sebastian Benavides Alburqueque and Estrella Christabel Porras Núñez and Helena Dominguez-Troncos and Víctor J. Vera-Ponce and Palmer J. Hernández-Yépez and Danai Valladares-Garrido and Percy Dante Ordemar Vasquez and César J. Pereira-Victorio and Carlos Culquichicón and Cristian Diaz-Velez},
journal = {Chronic Stress},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1177/24705470261499781},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1177/24705470261499781},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Factors Associated With Insomnia Among Medical Students Across Latin America During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Multicenter 2020 Benchmark Study
AU - Mario J. Valladares-Garrido
AU - J. Pierre Zila-Velasque
AU - Ludwing A. Zeta Solis
AU - David Astudillo Rueda
AU - María Julia Cómina Tamayo
AU - Fatima Jiménez-Mozo
AU - C. Ichiro Peralta Chiguala
AU - Christopher G. Valdiviezo-Morales
AU - E. Sebastian Benavides Alburqueque
AU - Estrella Christabel Porras Núñez
AU - Helena Dominguez-Troncos
AU - Víctor J. Vera-Ponce
AU - Palmer J. Hernández-Yépez
AU - Danai Valladares-Garrido
AU - Percy Dante Ordemar Vasquez
AU - César J. Pereira-Victorio
AU - Carlos Culquichicón
AU - Cristian Diaz-Velez
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/24
JO - Chronic Stress
DO - 10.1177/24705470261499781
UR - https://doi.org/10.1177/24705470261499781
AB - The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted medical education and mental health. This multicenter study examined factors associated with insomnia among medical students from 13 Latin American countries during the first pandemic wave. A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted using an online questionnaire. Insomnia was measured with the Insomnia Severity Index. Exposures included physical activity, eating disorder symptoms, burnout, resilience, smoking and alcohol risk, and sociodemographic, educational, and clinical variables. Prevalence ratios with 95% confidence intervals were estimated through regression. Among 2,019 students, the prevalence of insomnia symptoms according to the ISI cutoff was 46.9% (95% CI: 44.7–49.1). Higher prevalence was observed among students who reported being a son or daughter within their family, those with relatives diagnosed or deceased from COVID-19, prior mental health problems, eating disorder symptoms, or smoking risk. Lower prevalence was found among seventh-year students, those with children, those perceiving the pandemic as serious, and students reporting high physical activity or resilience. Almost half of medical students screened positive for insomnia symptoms during the early pandemic. Family COVID-19 impact, prior mental health problems, eating disorder symptoms, and smoking risk were associated factors, while advanced training level, parenthood, physical activity, and resilience were associated with a lower prevalence of insomnia symptoms. These findings provide evidence for sleep health in Latin American medical students and may guide post-pandemic comparisons and interventions.
SN - 2470-5470
ER -