--- title: "Load Shedding Disrupts Sleep Patterns for South African Students" url: https://newscentral.site/load-shedding-disrupts-sleep-patterns-for-south-african-students/ language: en publisher: "News Central Site" section: "Science" published: 2026-10-23T23:40:04.000Z updated: 2026-10-24T05:35:30.103Z id: c49cc4af-f24c-4f41-a94f-6bdb885e130c source: "Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-10-power-students-link-anxiety-disrupted.html" attribution: "Link to https://newscentral.site/load-shedding-disrupts-sleep-patterns-for-south-african-students/ and name News Central Site when you quote or summarize this story." --- # Load Shedding Disrupts Sleep Patterns for South African Students South Africa's frequent load shedding has significantly impacted students' sleep patterns, with nearly three-quarters of respondents feeling their sleep was affected. South Africa has been grappling with its worst year of load shedding in 2023, with scheduled power cuts occurring on an alarming 335 out of 365 days. The frequent disruptions to electricity supply have had far-reaching consequences, but one area that remains relatively unexplored is the impact on people's sleep patterns. As researchers who specialize in sleep science, we are keenly aware of the importance of a good night's rest for overall well-being. The human body has an innate circadian rhythm, which dictates when we feel most alert and sleepy. When this natural cycle is disrupted, it can lead to fragmented sleep and reduced sleep duration, both of which have been linked to various health issues, including increased risk of diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart problems, as well as cognitive impairments such as decreased attention span and executive function. University students in South Africa are particularly vulnerable to disruptions in their sleep patterns due to various factors such as irregular hours and heavy workloads. To investigate how load shedding affects these students' sleep, researchers conducted an anonymous online survey between August and November 2023 at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg. Over 1,100 students participated in the study. The results showed that nearly three-quarters of respondents felt their sleep was impacted by load shedding. Specifically, four out of five students who experienced disruptions attributed these to load shedding. Load shedding's effects on sleep were largely characterized as negative, with many students experiencing fragmented rest due to frequent nighttime awakenings. Backup power sources had some mitigating effect, but the availability and reliability of such alternatives varied widely among respondents. Power cuts can have a significant impact on students' lives, affecting not just their daily routines but also their mental health and academic performance. Students reported that power outages caused them to lie awake at night worrying about various appliances not functioning properly. Many were concerned about the safety of perishable food items and the loss of internet connectivity, which can be crucial for studying and communication. Some students even experienced anxiety due to increased vulnerability in the dark, without access to security measures like lights or alarms. The timing of power cuts also played a significant role in disrupting students' sleep patterns. Outages that occurred between 8 p.m. and 12:30 a.m. were particularly problematic, coinciding with evening routines such as cooking, studying, and personal hygiene. This period also corresponded with the average bedtime reported by students. While some students experienced disrupted sleep due to power cuts, others surprisingly reported improved sleep quality. Approximately one-fifth of affected students claimed that their sleep had actually improved when screens and Wi-Fi were switched off, resulting in a quieter and darker environment. About half of the participants lived off-campus in family or private housing, while the other half resided on-campus in university residences or dormitories. The university's generator fleet partially powered some on-campus accommodations at the time. Among those with access to backup power, users of generators and battery inverters reported disrupted sleep more frequently than others. Specifically, about half of these individuals experienced poorer sleep, possibly due to the loud operation and intermittent cycling of generators. In contrast, solar-powered homes saw significantly fewer issues, with less than one in four residents affected. Access to backup power was not uniform among participants, with only 40% having access at all. Those living on-campus were more likely to have reliable backup power sources compared to those residing off-campus. This disparity may have contributed to varying levels of sleep disruption and study impairment. Poor sleep patterns often coincided with poor academic performance. Two-thirds of students reported that load shedding had negatively impacted their studies, with over half of these individuals experiencing a decline in grades. Furthermore, students who slept poorly were more likely to report lower grades and tardiness for classes. The findings suggest that many students alter their study routine during power outages, with over four in ten choosing to simply study less. Sleep plays a crucial role in learning and memory consolidation, allowing the brain to store new information from the day and eliminate unnecessary memories to start fresh the next day. While the study cannot establish causality between load shedding and declining grades, the observed pattern aligns with existing research on sleep's impact on academic performance. The results also highlight the need for universities, energy planners, and households to consider alternative power sources that might be less disrupting than generators. The study highlights significant disruptions to students' sleep patterns due to power cuts during load shedding. Students reported experiencing anxiety and difficulty concentrating as a result of the frequent blackouts, which often occurred in the evening when they were studying or trying to relax. This not only affected their mental well-being but also had a direct impact on their academic performance, with many students reporting lower grades due to the lack of stable power supply. The results emphasize the importance of reliable energy sources for educational institutions and households, particularly during periods of load shedding. --- Source: [Phys.org](https://phys.org/news/2026-10-power-students-link-anxiety-disrupted.html) Published by News Central Site: https://newscentral.site/load-shedding-disrupts-sleep-patterns-for-south-african-students/