Sleep Disorders in College Students | Annotated Bibliography

Cukrowicz, K.C., Otamendi, A., Pinto, J.V., Bernet, R.A., Krakow, B., & Joiner, T.J. (2006). The impact of insomnia and sleep disturbances on depression and suicidality. Dreaming, 16(1), 1-10.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of sleep disturbances and insomnia on depression and suicidality in a non-treatment seeking sample of college students. Results indicated that insomnia and nightmares were significant predictors of symptoms of depression, while only nightmares significantly predicated suicidal ideation. Further analysis indicated that participants with high levels of insomnia, nightmares, or both experienced differing levels of depression and suicidal ideation. The discussion elaborates on a number of different treatment implications for the findings of this study. For example, the high correlations between sleep disturbances and depression and suicidality indicates the need for patients and therapists to monitor sleep regularly as a part of the assessment process and treatment plan. In addition, sleep hygiene and daily rhythm monitoring may aid in identifying phases from each of these disorders by identifying issues of sleep (nightmares in particular) as specific risk factors for depression and suicidal ideation.

Koffel, E. (2011). Further validation of the Iowa sleep disturbances inventory. Psychological Assessment,23(3), 587-598.

This study wanted to understand whether visual attention impairment contributed to the distraction that is caused by talking on cell phones while driving. The idea is that selective attention causes individuals to only to be able to focus on certain stimuli and ignores others. The fact that talking on the phone requires a certain amount of attention one cannot give their complete attention to driving. In this study, the numbers of participants were not discussed but they were volunteers who were compensated $10 an hour for their time. The studies were done in a simulated laboratory. The study cannot generalize to the population because the participants were not randomly selected. Furthermore, the study did not explain where did they got their volunteers so that is problematic, which may affect the results. This article fits into the research proposal because it explains how driving and talking on the phone can affect attention and memory. This study provided evidence that attention cannot be shared evenly because one stimulus takes more of the attention.

Koffel, E., & Watson, D. (2009). The two-factor structure of sleep complaints and its relation to depression and anxiety. Journal of Abnormal Psychology 118(1), 183-194.

This research examined the effects of cell phone usage on simulated driving. The study examined whether age had an effect on divided attention while driving and using hands free cell phone conversations. The study was conducted using a PatrolSim driving stimulator. The stimulator provided real life traffic situations and conditions. The participants in the study were 20 younger adults were between the ages of 18 to 25 years old. The study also included 20 older adults who were of the average age of 70 years old. The study also included a questionnaire about their health. Each participant conversed on the cell phone while the participants were driving. The sample size should be a little larger because it makes their results more valid and reliable. The results indicated that the distraction of the cell phone while driving equally negatively influenced older and younger adults. Surprisingly, the study showed that the reaction time was the same as the older adults when the younger adults were on the phone as older adults, reaction time when not conversing on the phone. The research indicated when an individual gaze or stare at an object in the external environment they do not see them when they are engaging in a conversation on the phone because it diverts their attention to internal cognitive framework associated with the phone conversation.

MacFarlane, J.G., & Wilson, T.L. (2006). A relationship between nightmare context and somatic stimuli in a sleep-disordered population: A preliminary study. Dreaming 16(1), 53-59.

This research examined the effects of cell phone usage on simulated driving. The study examined whether age had an effect on divided attention while driving and using hands free cell phone conversations. The study was conducted using a PatrolSim driving stimulator. The stimulator provided real life traffic situations and conditions. The participants in the study were 20 younger adults were between the ages of 18 to 25 years old. The study also included 20 older adults who were of the average age of 70 years old. The study also included a questionnaire about their health. Each participant conversed on the cell phone while the participants were driving. The sample size should be a little larger because it makes their results more valid and reliable. The results indicated that the distraction of the cell phone while driving equally negatively influenced older and younger adults. Surprisingly, the study showed that the reaction time was the same as the older adults when the younger adults were on the phone as older adults, reaction time when not conversing on the phone. The research indicated when an individual gaze or stare at an object in the external environment they do not see them when they are engaging in a conversation on the phone because it diverts their attention to internal cognitive framework associated with the phone conversation.

Murdock, K.K. (2013). Texting while stressed: Implications for students’ burnout, sleep, and well-being. Psychology of Popular Media Culture 2(4), 207-221.

This research examined the effects of cell phone usage on simulated driving. The study examined whether age had an effect on divided attention while driving and using hands free cell phone conversations. The study was conducted using a PatrolSim driving stimulator. The stimulator provided real life traffic situations and conditions. The participants in the study were 20 younger adults were between the ages of 18 to 25 years old. The study also included 20 older adults who were of the average age of 70 years old. The study also included a questionnaire about their health. Each participant conversed on the cell phone while the participants were driving. The sample size should be a little larger because it makes their results more valid and reliable. The results indicated that the distraction of the cell phone while driving equally negatively influenced older and younger adults. Surprisingly, the study showed that the reaction time was the same as the older adults when the younger adults were on the phone as older adults, reaction time when not conversing on the phone. The research indicated when an individual gaze or stare at an object in the external environment they do not see them when they are engaging in a conversation on the phone because it diverts their attention to internal cognitive framework associated with the phone conversation.