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Investigating the Sleep-Burnout Connection and Its Impact on Health-Related Quality of Life Among Medical Registrars at a University in South Africa
Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2026.
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English |
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Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
2026
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| _version_ | 1867613798267879424 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Mkatazo, Nomvuyiseko Aluta |
| author2 | Rampf, Nadine |
| author_browse | Mkatazo, Nomvuyiseko Aluta Rampf, Nadine |
| author_facet | Rampf, Nadine Mkatazo, Nomvuyiseko Aluta |
| author_sort | Mkatazo, Nomvuyiseko Aluta |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | Stellenbosch University |
| description | Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2026. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/136222 |
| institution | Stellenbosch University (South Africa) |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:41:51.674Z |
| license_str | Other — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| publishDate | 2026 |
| publishDateRange | 2026 |
| publishDateSort | 2026 |
| publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| publisherStr | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| spelling | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/136222 Investigating the Sleep-Burnout Connection and Its Impact on Health-Related Quality of Life Among Medical Registrars at a University in South Africa Mkatazo, Nomvuyiseko Aluta Rampf, Nadine Mentoor, Ilze Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences. Dept. of Biomendical Sciences. Division of Medical Physiology. Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2026. Mkatazo, N. A. 2026. Investigating the Sleep-Burnout Connection and Its Impact on Health-Related Quality of Life Among Medical Registrars at a University in South Africa. Unpublished masters thesis. Stellenbosch: Stellenbosch University [online]. Available: https://scholar.sun.ac.za/items/2b72b72e-b7bf-49fa-a5dc-d38feb0d83f0 Medical registrars constitute a critical workforce within South African healthcare, yet their routine exposure to long working hours, high patient loads, and academic pressures places them at risk for sleep disturbance, burnout, and reduced health-related quality of life. Despite growing evidence linking these factors internationally, limited data exist for South African registrars, particularly regarding the interrelationships between sleep, burnout, and Health-Related Quality of Life. This thesis investigated the relationships between sleep disturbance, burnout, and health-related quality of life among medical registrars at Stellenbosch University and assessed the potential mediating pathways linking these outcomes. A cross-sectional study was conducted. Data were collected using an electronic self-administered questionnaire comprising validated instruments such as Simple Lifestyle Indicator Questionnaire, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Epworth Sleepiness Scale, Copenhagen Burnout Inventory, Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale-21, Connor–Davidson Resilience Scale-2, and the World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF). Additional measures included biographical characteristics, clinical training demands, working hours, and screen-time behaviours. Descriptive statistics characterised the sample profile. Pearson’s chi-square tests were used to examine associations between categorical variables, with likelihood ratio chi-square tests applied when expected cell counts were violated. Cramer’s V was used to determine the strength of contingency associations. Of the registrars who accessed the survey (n = 59), 39 completed all required sections. Sleep disturbance was highly prevalent, with 76.9% classified as poor sleepers (mean PSQI = 8.9 ± 3.9) and 64.1% sleeping less than seven hours per night. Daytime sleepiness was common (mean ESS = 8.2 ± 4.8). Burnout levels were high across domains, particularly personal burnout (mean 59.1 ± 24.3) and work-related burnout (mean 60.6 ± 24.6). Overall, Health-Related Quality of Life scores were moderate, with physical and psychological domains showing the greatest impairment. Psychological symptoms showed mild depression, moderate anxiety, and normal-to-mild stress. Lifestyle assessment indicated overall moderate lifestyle health, while screen-time findings suggested frequent evening device use. Resilience levels were moderate (mean CD-RISC-2 = 6.4 ± 3.1). Correlation and mediation analyses showed strong associations between burnout, reduced sleep, and Health Related Quality of Life. Health-Related Quality of Life significantly mediated the associations between burnout and both sleep quality and daytime sleepiness. Variability in working hours, night duties, and academic pressures contributed to the broader pattern of strain, though subgroup comparisons were limited by sample size. In this study, medical registrars experienced substantial sleep disturbance, high burnout, and compromised Health-Related Quality of Life, alongside moderate lifestyle health and resilience. The mediation between burnout and sleep via Health-Related Quality of Life highlights the interconnected nature of registrars’ wellbeing. These findings underscore the need for institutional interventions that address workload, rostering, recovery opportunities, mental-health support, and sleep health to safeguard registrar wellbeing and optimise clinical performance. Masters 2026-04-28T12:03:16Z 2026-04-28T12:03:16Z 2026-03 Thesis https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/136222 en Stellenbosch University 145 pages application/pdf Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| spellingShingle | Mkatazo, Nomvuyiseko Aluta Investigating the Sleep-Burnout Connection and Its Impact on Health-Related Quality of Life Among Medical Registrars at a University in South Africa |
| title | Investigating the Sleep-Burnout Connection and Its Impact on Health-Related Quality of Life Among Medical Registrars at a University in South Africa |
| title_full | Investigating the Sleep-Burnout Connection and Its Impact on Health-Related Quality of Life Among Medical Registrars at a University in South Africa |
| title_fullStr | Investigating the Sleep-Burnout Connection and Its Impact on Health-Related Quality of Life Among Medical Registrars at a University in South Africa |
| title_full_unstemmed | Investigating the Sleep-Burnout Connection and Its Impact on Health-Related Quality of Life Among Medical Registrars at a University in South Africa |
| title_short | Investigating the Sleep-Burnout Connection and Its Impact on Health-Related Quality of Life Among Medical Registrars at a University in South Africa |
| title_sort | investigating the sleep burnout connection and its impact on health related quality of life among medical registrars at a university in south africa |
| url | https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/136222 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT mkatazonomvuyisekoaluta investigatingthesleepburnoutconnectionanditsimpactonhealthrelatedqualityoflifeamongmedicalregistrarsatauniversityinsouthafrica |