Sleep, Activity & Cognition: Analysis Of Academic Impacts In University Students

PURPOSE: the primary objective was to create and evaluate a theoretical framework that delineates the relationships between sleep, physical activity, cognitive function, and academic outcomes in Qatari university students. METHODS: A sample of 44 students (Age: 23.59y ± 4.34) participated in this longitudinal study. Firstly, the study computed descriptive statistics for all study variables. Some variables, such as Rapid Visual Information Processing (RVPA), Sleeping Efficiency (SLP), and Slow Wave Sleep (SWS), were measured repeatedly over six weeks. Secondly, bivariate Spearman correlations were conducted to explore the relationships among the study variables. Thirdly, a mediation analysis was performed to investigate the indirect effects of physical activity and sleep on academic performance through cognitive functioning. Finally, a moderation analysis was conducted to examine whether the relationship between sleep and academic performance remained when controlling for cognitive functioning and physical activity. RESULTS: The Friedman test confirmed significant differences in WS across the six weeks. These findings suggest that physical activity levels varied significantly throughout the study, with certain weeks exhibiting higher or lower mean steps than others. The results revealed a significant negative correlation between age and physical activity, indicating that older students tended to have lower physical activity levels. A significant positive correlation was observed between academic performance and physical activity. These findings suggest that physical activity may positively influence academic performance. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicated a significant indirect effect of physical activity on academic performance through cognitive functioning. This implies that cognitive function partly mediates the link between physical activity and academic success. These insights emphasize the value of physical activity in enhancing academic results, indicating that regular exercise might offer cognitive advantages leading to improved academic achievements. This study observed a positive correlation between physical activity, academic performance, and sleep habits among university students. Qatar University