The Impact of Sleep and Mental Health on Working Memory and Academic Performance: A Longitudinal Study

Abstract

Sleep and mental health can affect cognition and academic performance. The present study aimed to investigate the relationships between sleep, mental health, working memory, and academic performance. We collected demographic data from university students during the non-academic summer period and the academic term. We also measured academic performance (GPA), sleep (PSQI), depression (PHQ-9), anxiety (GAD-7), and disordered social media use (SMDS). Working memory was assessed by the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB). We assessed 83 students (42.2% male) with a mean age of 21 years. Compared to the non-academic summer period, students had significantly worse sleep and distress scores in the academic term. Anxiety, depression, and distress scores were significantly correlated with worse sleep quality. Despite worse mental health and sleep in the academic term, working memory improved compared to the non-academic summer period and was also correlated with a higher GPA. However, a higher GPA was significantly associated with longer sleep latency, increased sleep disturbances, and increased use of sleep medication. Students experiencing poor sleep suffered from poor mental health, although they maintained high GPA and working memory scores. Cognitive resilience, including higher working memory, may mask poor sleep quality and mental health among university students.

Research on the impact of the socio-educational environment on the academic performance of college students: the mediating role of study motivation

“…For instance, Smith et al (2023) conducted a study with 302 adolescent participants and found that teenagers with attention deficit or hyperactivity disorders generally exhibit lower levels of learning motivation, which in turn affects their academic performance. The internal factors such as sleep (Boraita et al, 2023;Chan et al, 2023;Hamvai et al, 2023), depression (Song et al, 2023;Urbanska-Grosz et al, 2023), and disordered social media use (Almarzouki et al, 2022;Sserunkuuma et al, 2023) also exert varying degrees of influence on academic performance. In this study, we primarily investigate the internal factors pertaining to learning state, encompassing self-efficacy and learning behavior.…”

Advances and New Perspectives in Higher Education Quality

“…For instance, Smith et al (2023) conducted a study with 302 adolescent participants and found that teenagers with attention deficit or hyperactivity disorders generally exhibit lower levels of learning motivation, which in turn affects their academic performance. The internal factors such as sleep (Boraita et al, 2023;Hamvai et al, 2023), depression (Song et al, 2023;Urbanska-Grosz et al, 2023), and disordered social media use (Almarzouki et al, 2022;Sserunkuuma et al, 2023) also exert varying degrees of influence on academic performance. In this study, we primarily investigate the internal factors pertaining to learning state, encompassing self-efficacy and learning behavior.…”

The Prevalence and Predictors of Sleep Disorders and Their Impact on Academic Performance Among Saudi University Students: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…Academic years can be exceedingly demanding for students. A significant number of students struggle with effectively managing their academic obligations and coordinating their study-life balance, while also expressing apprehension about securing a profession in a highly competitive job market [ 4 ]. Consequently, this particular demographic is vulnerable to developing mental health problems during their time in university [ 5 ].…”

“…Working memory is a type of memory that maintains knowledge that is important for the current task while the brain performs other mental processes. It is a crucial cognitive function in the process of learning [ 4 ].…”