Abstract
Background Pasifika students in New Zealand are overrepresented in poor academic outcomes, and their academic challenges may potentially influence their wellbeing. We aim to: 1) compare the academic stress, sleep quality, and psychological wellbeing of Pasifika and New Zealand European (NZE) anatomy students at the University of Otago, and 2) determine if academic stress mediates the association between their psychological wellbeing and sleep quality. Methods We launched a brief online survey to Pasifika and NZE students in our department. The survey included basic demographics, Perception of Academic Stress Scale, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, a short loneliness scale, a reduced morningness-eveningness scale, and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale. Results Perceived academic stress were comparable between NZE and Pasifika students, but Pasifika students reported poorer sleep quality than NZE students (t(113) = 14.41, P < .001). In addition, Pasifika students reported more loneliness (t(119) = 8.933, P < .001), less anxiety symptoms (t(120) = 2.469, P = .015), and less of a morning person (t(121) = 2.618, P = .010) than NZE students, but they had comparable depressive symptoms and daytime sleepiness. After controlling for age, ethnicity and gender, we found that academic stress fully mediated the relationship between anxiety or depressive symptoms and poor sleep quality. Furthermore, academic stress partially mediated the relationship between loneliness and poor sleep quality in our cohort. Conclusion Our findings highlight the importance for academic institutions to support students' wellbeing, including ethnic minority students such as Pasifika students in New Zealand.