Date
7-22-2025
Department
School of Behavioral Sciences
Degree
Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology (PhD)
Chair
Lauren Rolen
Keywords
Sleep patterns, memory, attention, school-aged children, Sleep Disturbances Scale for Children, Observer Memory Questionnaire, Attention Control Scale for Children, sleep disruptions, insufficient sleep, cognitive development
Disciplines
Psychology
Recommended Citation
Blount, Ryan Ta'Shawna, "The Relationships Among Sleep Patterns, Memory, and Attention in School-Aged Children" (2025). Doctoral Dissertations and Projects. 7171.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/7171
Abstract
This study explores the intricate relationships among sleep patterns, memory, and attention in school-aged children. Sleep is important for cognitive development, with studies suggesting that both quantity and quality of sleep significantly influence memory consolidation and attentional processes. Research indicates that insufficient or disrupted sleep can lead to deficits in working memory and sustained attention, negatively impacting academic performance and overall cognitive functioning. There is a lack of comprehensive studies that investigate how sleep disruptions impact both memory and attention during childhood. This study seeks to fill that gap by investigating the relationships among sleep, memory, and attention in school-aged children, contributing to a more integrated understanding of how sleep influences cognitive development. Sixty-nine participants were recruited online and completed a four-part anonymous survey measuring sleep disruptions, memory performance, and attention levels in school-aged children. A one-tailed Pearson correlation coefficient test was used to explore the relationships among sleep patterns, memory, and attention in school-aged children. Contrary to the original hypothesis, findings for this study revealed a significant positive correlation between sleep disturbances and memory performance. Also, according to this sample, sleep disturbances are not reliably associated with attention levels in children. Findings from this study contribute to the growing body of evidence linking sleep patterns to cognitive functioning in children.
