THE RELATIONSHIP OF DHIKR ACTIVITY AND STRESS LEVELS WITH SLEEP QUALITY AMONG MEDICAL STUDENTS AT UNIVERSITAS MUHAMMADIYAH SEMARANG

Abstract

Sleep quality is an important determinant of physical and psychological health and may be influenced by various factors, including stress and religious practices such as dhikr. Medical students are particularly vulnerable to sleep disturbances due to high academic demands and psychological stress. This study aimed to analyze the relationship between dhikr activity and stress levels with sleep quality among medical students at Universitas Muhammadiyah Semarang. An observational analytic study with a cross-sectional design was conducted among 124 medical students from the 2021 cohort selected using a total sampling technique. Data were collected using the Dhikr Intensity Questionnaire, the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-42), and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Data were analyzed using the Spearman rank correlation test with a significance level of p < 0.05. The results showed that most respondents had high dhikr activity (37.1%), mild stress levels (33.9%), and good sleep quality (62.1%). A significant positive relationship was found between dhikr activity and sleep quality (r = 0.684; p = 0.001), indicating that higher dhikr activity was associated with better sleep quality. A significant relationship was also found between stress levels and sleep quality (r = 0.214; p = 0.017). In conclusion, dhikr activity and stress levels were significantly associated with sleep quality among medical students at Universitas Muhammadiyah Semarang.