Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 4, 2026

Author Spotlight: Unveiling the Connection Between Sleep Disorders and Cognitive Symptoms in Depression
Published on: April 26, 2024
Catching As and Zs: poor sleep quality predicts failures to increase studying time
Elijah A Patten1, M Alexandra Kredlow1, Kristin L Szuhany1
1Boston University, Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, 900 Commonwealth Ave, 2nd Floor, Boston, MA 02215.
Objective:
We examined the association between sleep quality and academic performance by attending to university students' self-defined goals to increase studying behaviors over a four-week period.
Methods:
We evaluated this association in 100 undergraduates, who self-elected to change their studying behaviors and were randomly assigned to one of three interventions (action planning, dissonance-based, or reflection).
Results:
We found a negative association between the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) at baseline and subsequent studying time over the next four weeks, reflecting a small to medium effect size (partial r = .21). Depressive symptoms did not mediate the predictive influence of sleep quality on studying behavior. Intervention type did not influence the association between sleep quality and studying time.
Conclusions:
The predictive significance of sleep quality, in the context of the failure of effects for the randomized interventions, underscores the potential for intervening with sleep as part of efforts to improve academic behaviors.
Related Concept Videos
Insufficient Sleep and Sleep Deprivation
Sleep deprivation is a more severe form of sleep loss...
Substance Use Disorders Affecting Sleep
Understanding the concepts of physical dependence,...
Correlations
Understanding Sleep
The circadian rhythm, a nearly 24-hour cycle, is deeply influenced by environmental light cues. Light exposure directly affects the hypothalamus, which in turn regulates...
Stages of Sleep
Before sleep begins, in wakefulness, the brain exhibits primarily beta waves, which are high in frequency and low in amplitude, indicating alertness...
Reliability and Validity

