The relationship between sleep and cognitive functioning in adult people

The purpose of the current study is to find out if subjective sleep complaints will have less cognitive functioning in older people (50 years and above). Sleep was assessed with the subscale Sleep Problems of the Symptoms Checklist-90 (Arrendell & Ettema 1986). Cognitive performance was measured with the Mini Mental Status Examination (Folstein, et al 1975) which is used as a dependent variable. Subjective complaints would be negatively associated with cognitive performance, since in elder people biological sleep is likely to be related with cognitive changes. A group of 12 people were given the task of collecting data through purposeful sampling techniques. Sample size of 120 participants was assessed. Each member of the group collected data from 10 subjects. Pearson Correlation Moment was applied for data analysis. In older persons the coefficient of falling asleep difficulty was -0.05 (p=0.33) and for waking up too early the coefficient was -0.13 (p=0.012) while for restless sleep coefficient was calculated as -0.09 (p=0.094). The assumption was verified that sleep problems negatively associated with cognitive functioning.