Document Type

Research Paper

Date of Completion

Fall 10-22-2026

Department

Communication Science Disorders

Faculty Mentor

Joni Day

Abstract

Executive functions (EF) are skills used to complete desired behaviors and inhibit undesired ones. These skills are necessary for everyday life, and even more so in higher education and the workplace. This study examined the combined impact of sleep and exercise on five facets of EF in young adults enrolled in undergraduate or graduate courses. It also examined how perceived effort and performance in college classes interact with EF. The first five hypotheses studying sleep and exercise were analyzed using a 2x2 between-groups ANOVA. The data divided participants into those averaging fewer than 7 hours of sleep a night and those averaging at least 7 hours a night. Exercise was divided into yes/no categories based on the reported frequency. Data for the dependent variable were collected using the Short Executive Function Scale (Karr, 2024) and were divided into subskills. The scores for planning, inhibition, working memory, shifting, and emotional control were based on confidence in those areas. Participants in this study did not differ significantly in sleep amount or exercise with respect to EF scores across the five subskills. The last five hypotheses were analyzed using one-way ANOVA tests. Students categorized themselves based on their perceived effort and success in their courses. Those who reported trying and succeeding in their courses had higher mean scores in planning and inhibition than those whose effort and success varied. This study was limited by its reliance on self-reported data. Future research could examine the interactions among these factors and other EF subskills.

Copyright held by

public domain

Download

Share

COinS