The Relationship Between Stress, Sleep, and Accuracy During a Stress-Inducing Cognitive Task

• In Event: 29.082 - Roundtable Session 9
  In Roundtable Session: 29.082-18 - Stress, Coping, and Resilience

Abstract

The current, ongoing study sought to add to previous findings on the effects of stress and sleep on student functioning by examining the relationship between stress, sleep, and performance on a cognitive performance task. Specifically, participants’ self-reported levels of perceived stress and sleep quality were measured and compared to accuracy and heart rate (HR) data collected during a stress-inducing, computerized cognitive performance task. Preliminary correlational and mean comparison analyses indicated significant relationships between sleep quality, HR, and task accuracy, as well as HR and accuracy differences dependent on task difficulty, suggesting a possibly effect of sleep and stress on student performance. Results are discussed in relation to previous literature and their significance for schools to better address student functioning.

Authors

• Christopher Prickett, Texas A&M University

• Brenna Lin, Texas A&M University - College Station

• Steven Woltering, Texas A&M University - College Station