ASSOCIATION OF SLEEP QUALITY WITH EXECUTIVE FUNCTION IMPAIRMENT AMONG YOUNG ADULTS

Abstract

Background: Many young adults are facing problems sleeping well, mainly because of academic stress, lifestyle changes, and excessive electronic device use. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the association between sleep quality and executive function impairment among young adults. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Ahmedabad and Mahemdavad districts of Gujarat between March and July 2026. Sleep quality was measured using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), while executive function was assessed using performance on theStroop task. The data were analysed using IBM SPSS version 27. Results: Poorer sleep quality, as indicated by higher PSQI global scores, showed a significant correlation with slower reaction times in congruent trials (rs = 0.204, p = 0.042) and a stronger correlation with increased Stroop errors (rs = 0.349, p < 0.001). No significant association was observed for incongruent trials (p = 0.112). Conclusion: Poorer sleep quality significantly correlates with impaired executive function in young adults, reflected in longer task completion times and higher error rates during cognitive assessments. These outcomes strongly emphasise that adequate sleep remains highly crucial to preserving optimal cognitive performance and daily executive functioning. Keywords: PSQI, Stroop test, interference effect, executive function, sleep quality