Executive dysfunction, negative pre-sleep cognitions, and sleep problems: examining a cyclical model

Sleep is integral to cognitive functioning, and disturbances in sleep patterns can impair cognition. This study investigated the relationships between executive functions, sleep problems, and negative pre-sleep cognitions, proposing a model for their interaction. We assessed 107 adults using the Bedtime Counterfactual Processing Questionnaire and the Glasgow Content of Thoughts Inventory for negative pre-sleep cognitions, the Insomnia Severity Index and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index for sleep problems, and the Free Research Executive Evaluation test battery for executive functions. Regression and mediation analyses were conducted to examine both direct and indirect relationships between these variables. Higher executive functions were associated with fewer negative pre-sleep cognitions, which in turn predicted fewer sleep problems. However, the anticipated direct effect of sleep problems on executive functioning was not supported, indicating a more complex interplay. Notably, pre-sleep cognition mediated the relationship between executive functions and sleep problems, indirectly affecting sleep problems through its connection with executive functions. While the findings support the mediation model of executive functions, negative pre-sleep cognitions, and sleep problems, the proposed cyclical model was not fully substantiated. This suggests that additional factors may influence the dynamics of this relationship, offering potential avenues for future research and interventions targeting sleep disorders and cognitive well-being enhancement.