ASSOCIATION BETWEEN CUMULATIVE LIFETIME STRESS, COGNITIVE FUNCTION AND SLEEP: THE MODERATING EFFECTS OF RESILIENCE

Abstract

Stress is multidimensional and can be labeled as acute, chronic, or cumulative. Cumulative lifetime stress encompasses the exposure to stressors occurring over the course of the lifetime, instead of focusing on a specific time point. Not surprisingly, exposure to stress over the lifetime can pose significant negative effects on one's physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing. It has further been suggested that exposure to cumulative lifetime stress can have varying effects on cognitive function and sleep. While some studies have previously examined these relationships, more research is needed. As such, the goal of the current study was to examine the relationship between cumulative lifetime stress and cognitive function, the relationship between cumulative lifetime stress and sleep function, and the role of resilience as a moderator in the stress-cognitive function and stress-sleep relationships in a college student sample (n = 153). Linear regressions and moderation analyses were used to ascertain those relationships. Results demonstrated that cumulative lifetime stress did not predict variables of cognitive function, except for working memory, where greater cumulative lifetime stress was associated with better working memory task performance. In contrast, cumulative lifetime stress predicted sleep outcomes, with greater cumulative lifetime stress associated with more sleep quality disturbances, and greater insomnia severity, and daytime sleepiness. In both analyses, resilience as a moderator did not influence those relationships. Findings from the current study underscore the detrimental effects of lifetime stress exposure on health outcomes, further adding to existing literature.