Sleep Quality and Academic Performance in University Students: A Systematic Review from Health Psychology

Sleep is an essential process for cognitive functioning, emotional regulation, and overall health, particularly among university students exposed to high academic demands, irregular schedules, and intensive use of electronic devices. These conditions are associated with poorer sleep quality, which may constitute a risk factor for academic performance. The aim of this systematic review was to synthesize the evidence published between 2020 and 2025 on the association between sleep quality and academic performance in university students, from a health psychology perspective. Searches were conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, including 37 studies (n = 19,440), whose methodological quality was assessed using the Downs and Black checklist. Due to heterogeneity in study designs, sleep measures, academic performance indicators, and overall study quality, a narrative synthesis of the results was performed. The studies were categorized into three main patterns: a negative association between poorer sleep quality and lower academic performance, no association, and mixed or counterintuitive findings. Overall, the findings suggest a generally negative relationship between poorer sleep quality and academic performance; however, the evidence should be interpreted with caution due to the methodological limitations identified. These results highlight the need to integrate the assessment and promotion of healthy sleep into interventions targeting university students.