Impact of academic stress on executive functions and sleep quality among university students: an observational study

Lai, Yu Wei (2024) Impact of academic stress on executive functions and sleep quality among university students: an observational study. Final Year Project, UTAR.

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Abstract

Background: Research shows that stress can impair executive function, but the effects of academic stress specifically remain underexplored. Academic stress, prevalent among university students, is also linked to poor sleep quality. While stress's impact on executive function and sleep has been studied separately, limited research examines their combined effects, highlighting a critical gap. Objective: This study aims to study the impact of academic stress on executive functions and sleep quality among university students. The specific objectives are to investigate the impact of academic stress on working memory, cognitive flexibility, and sleep quality among university students. Method: A total of 401 participants of full-time university students were recruited from Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) Sungai Long Campus. Then, participants filled up the informed consents form and demographics information. Next, Perception of Academic Stress Scale was used to examine student’s perceived academic stress, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index was used to measure sleep quality, Trail Making Test Part B was used to assess executive functions. Spearman’s correlation is used to examine the correlation between academic stress, sleep quality, and executive function. Results: Academic stress was positively correlated with poorer sleep quality (r= 0.375, p < 0.001) and marginally associated with impaired executive functions (r = 0.107, p = 0.032). Sleep quality also showed a weak positive correlation with executive functions (r = 0.185, p < 0.001). No significant differences in academic stress or sleep quality were found across demographic variables, but females demonstrated better executive function than males. Conclusion: Academic stress has a significant correlation with executive functions and sleep quality. Executive functions also significant correlated with sleep quality. Keywords: Academic Stress, Sleep Quality, Executive Function, Working Memory, University Students, Trail Making Test (TMT-B), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Perceived Academic Stress Scale (PAS).

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