PERCEIVED STRESS, SLEEP AND COGNITIVE FAILURE IN WORKING MOTHERS: A CROSS-SECTIONAL NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL STUDY

Abstract

The current study examined the relationship between perceived stress, sleep quality and cognitive failures among working mothers, specifically testing the mediating role of sleep quality. A correlational research design was used and data was gathered using purposive sampling with 300 working mothers aged 25-50 years. Standardized instruments used included the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), Cognitive Failures Questionnaire (CFQ 2.0), and PROMIS Sleep Disturbance Short Form 8a. A Pearson correlation, regression analysis, ANOVA, and PROCESS Macro mediation analysis were performed in SPSS to analyze the data. The results indicated that all of the variables in the study were significantly positively related to each other. The perceived stress significantly correlated with cognitive failures (r = .53, p < .01) and sleep disturbances (r = .51, p < .01); sleep disturbances also significantly correlated with cognitive failures (r = .61, p < .01). Descriptive statistics indicated moderate levels of perceived stress (M = 19.97, SD = 8.21), sleep disturbances (M = 30.60, SD = 12.86), and cognitive failures (M = 24.29, SD = 6.75). The cognitive failures were significantly predicted by perceived stress and sleep quality, accounting for 30% of the variance each (R² = .30, β = .43 and β = .20, respectively, P < .001). Residential background and house help (p < .05) also produced significant differences, but education level did not. This study determines that more stress and less sleep quality are significant factors in causing cognitive failures of working mothers. The results underscore the significance of mental health care, a good night's sleep and nurturing work and family environments in enhancing psychiatric status and mental abilities of mothers.