Abstract
Introduction: Sleep quality and secondhand smoke are two different, complex health problems that can be life-threatening for humans. The purpose of this study was to determine the linkage between secondhand smoke exposure and poor sleep quality among non-smoker university students in Saudi Arabia. Methods: A cross-sectional investigation was undertaken among students from two universities in Saudi Arabia. Data were collected by using an online platform with a structured questionnaire. Participants' sleep quality was assessed by Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. A score of more than five was categorized as a poor level of sleep. Multiple logistic regression models were employed to assess the relationship. Results: Of the total 500 participants, 57.2% were males and 42.8% were females. The prevalence of poor sleep and secondhand smoke among non-smoker university students was 60.2% and 46.2%, respectively. The adjusted regression analysis demonstrated that students exposed to secondhand smoke were four times more likely to have poor sleep compared to their counterparts (adjusted odds ratio, aOR = 4.08; 95% confidence interval, CI: 2.55, 6.52). A significant relationship between secondhand smoke exposure and poor sleep quality was also found in both male (aOR = 2.55; 95% CI: 1.17, 5.60) and female (aOR = 5.39; 95% CI: 2.88, 10.09) subgroups. Conclusion: A statistically significant linkage between secondhand smoke exposure and poor sleep quality was found among Saudi Arabian students. Therefore, taking precautions against secondhand smoke exposure and encouraging smoking cessation to improve university students' sleep quality is crucial.