Subjective Cognitive Concerns and Their Relationship with Psychological Distress, Sleep Quality and Mindfulness among Young Adults

Abstract

Abstract Subjective cognitive concerns tend to have negative effects on the well-being and overall quality of life of those affected. Since there is scant research in this area regarding young population, this study focused on potential predictors of reported cognitive concerns among younger adults. The study aimed to examine whether 1) worry about cognition can be predicted by mild depression, anxiety, sleep quality and mindfulness, 2) mental health illnesses moderate the relationships between mild depression, anxiety, sleep quality, mindfulness and worry about cognition and 3) whether anxiety mediates the effect of sleep quality upon worry about cognition. Standard multiple regressions, moderation and mediation analysis were performed. The sample included 480 participants who aged from 18 to 35 years. The results revealed that mild depression, anxiety, poor sleep quality and lower level of mindfulness independently predicted cognitive concerns. Moreover, no moderation effects of mental health illness on the relationships between psychological distress, sleep quality and mindfulness were found. Finally, the effect of sleep quality on cognitive concerns was mediated by anxiety. The research revealed the influential contribution of psychological distress, sleep quality and mindfulness on cognition among young adults, suggesting that interventions to improve emotional distress and maximise sleep quality and mindfulness might be beneficial.