Ramadan fasting and physical and cognitive fatigue in adolescent students

Abstract

This study examined the impact of Ramadan fasting on physical and cognitive fatigue among adolescent students, addressing a gap in a literature that has focused predominantly on adults and athletic populations. A quantitative, cross-sectional design was used: an anonymous, structured questionnaire employing a 3-point Likert-type scale (Positive/Neutral/Negative) was administered to N = 50 Year 12 (Classe de Première) students at the Lycée Français Bonaparte in Doha, Qatar, who self-identify as Muslim and observe the daily fast. The instrument assessed four domains: energy levels, cognitive performance, sleep architecture, and hydration/nutrition. Results indicated a substantial reduction in nocturnal sleep, with a mean duration of 5.2 ± 1.7 hours (median 5.0 hours) against a recommended 8–10 hours for adolescents (Hirshkowitz et al., 2015), and 60.0% of students reporting disrupted sleep. A pronounced circadian phase shift was observed: 86.0% of students reported their peak sense of well-being in the evening, after Iftar, rather than during school hours. Classroom concentration was rated positively by only 26.0% of respondents, and sustained daytime energy by only 34.0%. Lack of sleep (52.0%) and dehydration (42.0%) were the most commonly cited drivers of fatigue. Despite this physiological strain, students showed behavioural resilience: 54.0% maintained their usual participation and a positive mood, and only 28.0% reported a definite decline in grades relative to the rest of the academic year. These findings support the primary hypothesis that adolescents experience measurable increases in physical and mental fatigue during Ramadan, and suggest this fatigue is driven more by sleep disruption and altered daily routines than by the act of fasting itself. The results indicate that while fasting imposes a substantial circadian and sleep burden on adolescent students, compensatory coping mechanisms mitigate its translation into academic decline for the majority of students. The study recommends institutional guidance on sleep hygiene, pre-dawn hydration, and flexible scheduling of demanding academic tasks during Ramadan.