Brain Fag Syndrome (BFS), Sleep, And Beliefs About Sleep Among Secondary School Students In Nigeria

ABSTRACT

Objective: Brain Fag, a culture bound syndrome which manifests especially among students in Africa was investigated in relation to sleep and beliefs about sleep in a sample of Nigerian secondary school students. Methods: A sample of 500 secondary school students were drawn from six secondary schools in Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria. The Brain Fag Syndrome Scale, Beliefs and Attitude about sleep Questionnaire, and selected items of Pittsburgh Sleep Index were administered on the participants. Results: Students with Brain Fag Syndrome (BFS) slept an average of 5.8 hrs (S.D = 1.1) while those without BFS slept an average of 5.9 hrs (S.D = 1.1). One hundred and eighty two (37.3%) BFS students slept above 6 hrs a day compared with 32 (62.7%) of non BFS students (t = -2.667; df = 49; p = 0.657). Students with BFS (44.3%) slept early while 33.8% of students without BFS slept early (X2 = 7.324, df = 3, p = 0.007). Early insomnia was experienced by 57% of BFS cases while 55% of non BFS cases experienced early insomnia (X2 = 2.019; df = 1; p = 0.155). Conclusion: BFS students in Nigeria to adjust their sleep patterns and habits in order to forestall clinically significant psychological breakdown and impairment in cognitive functioning.