The Correlation Between Sleep Quality and Stress Levels with Learning Achievement in Adolescents at Mts Saintek Nurul Qur'an Hdwr in 2026

Ardianta Minggu, Juli 12, 2026
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Poor Sleep and Stress Linked to Lower Academic Performance Among Indonesian Boarding School Students

YOGYAKARTA, Indonesia — Poor sleep quality and elevated stress levels are significantly associated with lower academic achievement among adolescents studying at an Islamic boarding school in Indonesia, according to a 2026 peer-reviewed study by Tantiana Isnaningsih and Hanna Firlyana from the Public Health Study Program. Published in the Indonesian Journal of Contemporary Multidisciplinary Research (MODERN), the research highlights how two common but often overlooked health issues—insufficient sleep and academic stress—can directly influence students' ability to learn and perform in school. The findings reinforce the growing importance of integrating student well-being into educational policies and school health programs.

Sleep, Stress, and Student Success Are Increasingly Connected

Around the world, educators and policymakers are searching for ways to improve academic performance following years of learning disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. International assessments such as the OECD's Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) have reported declines in reading, mathematics, and science achievement in many countries, including Indonesia.

At the same time, adolescent mental health has become a major public health concern. Previous national surveys have shown that approximately one-third of Indonesian adolescents experience mental health problems, while sleep disturbances affect a large proportion of young people. In boarding schools, where students balance intensive academic lessons with religious activities and structured daily routines, maintaining adequate sleep and managing stress can be particularly challenging.

Against this backdrop, Tantiana Isnaningsih and Hanna Firlyana investigated whether sleep quality and stress levels are related to students' academic achievement at MTs Saintek Nurul Qur'an HDWR, an Islamic junior secondary boarding school.

How the Research Was Conducted

The researchers carried out a quantitative descriptive study involving all 38 students enrolled at MTs Saintek Nurul Qur'an HDWR. Rather than selecting a sample, every eligible student participated in the research.

Students completed structured questionnaires measuring sleep quality and stress levels, while academic achievement data were analyzed alongside these responses. The researchers then compared the results using standard statistical tests to determine whether meaningful relationships existed between the variables.

This straightforward approach allowed the research team to examine how everyday health factors may influence educational outcomes among adolescents.

Key Findings

The study found that poor sleep and moderate-to-high stress were common among participating students.

Major findings include:

  • 78.9% of students had poor sleep quality.
  • 55.3% experienced moderate stress, while 15.8% reported severe stress.
  • 89.5% demonstrated moderate academic achievement, with only a small proportion reaching high academic performance.
  • Statistical analysis found a significant relationship between sleep quality and academic achievement (p = 0.016).
  • The study also identified a significant relationship between stress levels and academic achievement (p = 0.039).

Students who reported better sleep quality were more likely to achieve stronger academic results than those experiencing poor sleep. Likewise, students with higher stress levels generally performed less well academically, suggesting that emotional well-being plays an important role in learning success.

The findings are consistent with earlier studies conducted in Indonesian secondary schools, which have similarly reported that sufficient sleep improves concentration, memory, and classroom performance, while excessive academic stress can reduce cognitive function and learning effectiveness.

Why Sleep Matters for Learning

Sleep is more than simply a period of rest. During healthy sleep, the brain consolidates new information, strengthens memory, restores energy, and supports emotional regulation. Adolescents who regularly sleep well are generally better equipped to pay attention in class, solve problems, and retain new knowledge.

Conversely, chronic sleep deprivation may impair concentration, slow information processing, and reduce motivation to learn. In boarding school environments where students often begin activities early and finish late, insufficient sleep can gradually accumulate, making academic challenges even more difficult.

The research suggests that improving students' sleep habits may represent a practical and low-cost strategy for supporting better educational outcomes.

Managing Stress Can Improve Academic Performance

Academic stress is another important factor affecting adolescent learning. Heavy coursework, examinations, social relationships, extracurricular commitments, and time management challenges can all increase psychological pressure.

The study found that students experiencing severe stress tended to achieve lower academic results than those reporting mild stress. Excessive stress may interfere with concentration, reduce problem-solving ability, and make it harder for students to stay engaged during lessons.

Rather than viewing stress solely as an individual issue, the researchers suggest that schools should recognize stress management as part of a broader strategy to improve educational quality and student well-being.

Implications for Schools, Families, and Policymakers

The findings have practical implications for educators, parents, and education authorities.

Schools can help students by promoting healthy sleep habits, providing stress-management education, encouraging balanced daily schedules, and ensuring that academic demands remain manageable. Boarding schools, in particular, may benefit from reviewing daily routines to ensure students receive adequate opportunities for rest.

Parents can reinforce healthy bedtime routines and encourage open communication about academic pressures. Meanwhile, policymakers may consider incorporating sleep health and mental well-being into school health promotion programs as part of broader educational improvement initiatives.

Supporting students' physical and psychological health may ultimately contribute not only to stronger academic achievement but also to healthier long-term development.

As Tantiana Isnaningsih and Hanna Firlyana from the Public Health Study Program conclude, maintaining good sleep quality and effectively managing stress are important factors that support better academic performance among adolescents. Their findings suggest that student well-being should be regarded as an essential component of educational success rather than a separate health issue.

Author Profile

  1. Tantiana Isnaningsih, a public health researcher from the Public Health Study Program, specializes in adolescent health, health promotion, and educational health research. She served as the corresponding author of this study.
  2. Hanna Firlyana, also affiliated with the Public Health Study Program, focuses on public health research involving adolescent well-being, mental health, and health-related factors influencing educational outcomes.

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