Power cuts and sleep: Students link load shedding to anxiety, disrupted rest and lower grades
Researchers at the University of the Witwatersrand studied the impact of South Africa's load shedding on university students. The study links frequent power cuts to increased anxiety, disrupted sleep patterns, and potential declines in academic performance.
Why it matters
Understanding the psychological and physiological effects of energy instability is crucial for addressing student well-being in developing economies.
by Joshua Davimes, Karine Scheuermaier, The Conversation
edited by Swati Mestri , reviewed by Andrew Zinin
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:
Add to Preferred Sources Credit: Karola g/Pexels South Africa endured its worst year of load shedding (scheduled power cuts by the country's utility, Eskom) in 2023. The power went off on 335 of the year's 365 days, often several times a day. Since then, the country has gone more than a year and a half without these planned power cuts.
Much has been written about how load shedding affected businesses , health care and the economy . But far less is known about the effect on people's sleep.
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